Orthodox Jewish critics say they are ‘repulsed’ by Museum of Sex ads on buses

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What you need to know today

• Some Orthodox Jews are criticizing Museum of Sex ads on MTA buses. Multiple speakers at the MTA’s monthly board meeting said they were “repulsed” and “hurt” by museum ads on the buses, according to The City Reporter. “Orthodox Jews are forbidden to willingly look at ads and images that attract them to sex,” said Rabbi Abraham Zimmerman of the Central Rabbinical Congress.

• The Republican New York gubernatorial candidate said Brad Lander would have been a “camp guard” for Nazis. Bruce Blakeman made the comment on the conservative network Newsmax after Lander, a progressive congressional candidate, defeated the pro-Israel incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. After Blakeman was criticized by Jewish officials and organizations, he said, “Maybe camp guard was too strong, but certainly collaborator.” Blakeman, Lander and Goldman are all Jewish.

• 700+ US rabbis signed a letter urging Mamdani to apologize for his language about AIPAC. More than 700 rabbis and cantors from across the United States signed a letter published Friday calling on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to apologize for referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee as “monsters.” The letter was organized by the Jewish Majority advocacy group, led by AIPAC veteran Jonathan Schulman.

• Jewish leaders are defending Hakeem Jeffries as some DSA members call to oust him. Jewish Community Relations Council CEO Mark Treyger and Met Council CEO David Greenfield have voiced support for the moderate, pro-Israel House minority leader. When Jeffries’ face appeared on TV screens during a party celebrating democratic socialist Claire Valdez’s primary victory on Tuesday, attendees chanted, “You’re next.”

🗓 What’s on this weekend?

• The historic Chinese game mah jongg is having a major moment — and now you can join in. We are hosting the city’s first-ever New York Jewish Mah Jongg Festival at the Museum of Jewish Heritage this Sunday and Monday, June 28-29. 

• Tens of thousands of queer women on Saturday will join the NYC Dyke March, whose organizers say that anti-Zionism is a core value of the event. Many of the march’s longtime Jewish participants will attend a separate event hosted by Shalom, Dykes, reported The Forward.