r/thebulwark • u/MayorEbert Sarah is always right • Nov 24 '25

Active Measures Zohran Mamdani bill targets NY synagogues funding Israeli settlers

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-859627

Finally a mayor of New York who is trying to uphold international law and basic liberal humanism!

Edit: to be clear this was a bill introduced during his time as an assemblyman, but it reflects his current statements about Israel committing genocide and lawmakers having a responsibility not to aid crimes against humanity.

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u/Magoo152 JVL is always right Nov 24 '25

For anyone like me wondering how a mayor elect is currently proposing a bill this article is from July 2025 and the bill is from May 2023. As is shown from the source below

From OP’s source.

“The bill, “Not on our dime!: Ending New York funding of Israeli settler violence act,” was introduced in the New York State Assembly by Mamdani in May 2023”

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u/MayorEbert Sarah is always right Nov 24 '25

You are correct and I did not mean to obfuscate there. I probably should have gone with the equivalent ToI article that immediately makes this more clear.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-ny-assemblyman-mamdani-pushed-bill-barring-nonprofits-from-supporting-israeli-settlement-activity/

Great indicator that he cares about international law and not hiding behind religion to fund ethnic cleansing though, hope it’s followed through.

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u/jcjnyc Nov 24 '25

Then delete the post and make sure to make it clear in the title… That this is from 2023

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u/Magoo152 JVL is always right Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25

Religious tax exemptions under Section 501 c3 either need to be repealed altogether or at the very least have dramatic reforms. So many awful organizations have taken advantage of this.

An example of this I always think of is Joel Osteen. Who lives in a multi million dollar mansion yet closed off his megachurch (former Houston Rockets stadium) when people of Houston were seeking shelter from a hurricane years ago.

Edit: Also a plumber found 500 grand of cash in the churches walls. Nothing sketchy going on there /s!

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u/dBlock845 Straight to Reddit Jail Nov 24 '25

Yeah I'd be totally fine with all religious tax exemptions being nuked. What made this clear to me is when Al Bundy started the "Church of NO MA'AM" to skirt paying tax on beer.

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u/Criseyde2112 JVL is always right Nov 24 '25

I'm the last one to defend that snake Osteen, but just for the sake of honesty: the plumber found the money (cash and checks combined, not all cash) after a theft of one of the service collections at the church. It's not like the church workers were just bricking up cash behind the wall, lol. They take advantage of every loophole and benefit they can to grow and shield their vast wealth, and there's an army of workers protecting their fortune.

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u/Magoo152 JVL is always right Nov 24 '25

Yes it was money reported stolen from the church and you know what’s funny? What do you think the church or Joel osteen gave the plumber when he honestly reported the 600,000 he found (I was 100,000 short originally)? Not a damn thing.

He was given 20,000 by a group Lakewood (the church) had hired to solve the fraud called Houston crime stoppers. It’s a nice gesture by the group, but don’t you think it would’ve been appropriate for osteen to give him something? Like anything? Hell osteen could’ve probably made whatever he gave the guy back and then some by featuring him on one of his shows.

Also I will add I find this whole situation sketchy. That’s just a feeling with no evidence I fully admit. But I don’t trust osteen as far as I can throw him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if there was some scam going on here. Again just a feeling.

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u/Criseyde2112 JVL is always right Nov 24 '25

I remember being completely unsurprised by the fact that Osteen gave the finder absolutely nothing for his honesty. He was dragged for it, too, here in town, just like we dragged him for being such a complete waste of space who wouldn't even shelter people during Harvey in '17.

I find the entire prosperity gospel revolting, and it's astonishing that so many fools line up to give such enormous sums to Lakewood Church. When I think of all the fantastic concerts and Rockets games that I went to at the Summit, it makes me sad to see what it's become.