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With Zohran Mamdani poised to potentially become New York's Mayor, it is imperative that the Jewish community in New York acts decisively and votes against him in November. The historical lesson of Vienna underscores the critical importance of this action, particularly regarding the consequences of electing anti-Semitic mayors in cities with sizable Jewish populations.
Take Karl Lueger, for instance, an influential anti-Semite who served as mayor of Vienna five times between 1897 and 1910. Initially, Emperor Franz Joseph refused to endorse him due to his blatant anti-Semitism. However, after Lueger's fifth re-election, the Emperor acquiesced to his power, showcasing how entrenched anti-Semitic sentiments were in Austria at that time. Lueger scapegoated the Jewish community for Vienna’s financial troubles and rallied crowds with his vile rhetoric. Remarkably, despite his public persona, he maintained friendships with several Jews in private. When questioned about this hypocrisy, Lueger infamously declared, "I decide who is a Jew." This statement epitomizes the historical attitude towards Jews in Vienna.
Lueger’s toxic ideologies had a profound impact on Adolf Hitler, who moved to Vienna in 1906. Hitler references Lueger as a pivotal influence on his views about Jews in his book, Mein Kampf.
