‘Can’t shut kids out,’ students tell Mamdani at prayer vigil outside Gracie Mansion

Approximately 400 Jewish day school students from SAR Academy, Ramaz, and Park East Synagogue held a "prayer vigil" outside Gracie Mansion, the New York City mayoral residence, on Friday morning. The student-led gathering, which included morning prayers and speeches, aimed to convey a message of Jewish presence, safety, and Zionism to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was not present. Organizers, including Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, stated the intention was to encourage the mayor to connect with the Jewish community and address their concerns. Councilwoman Inna Vernikov expressed pride in the students for "speaking up, standing up, showing up, being loud and proud about their Jewish identity." Students, like sophomore Ari Fogelson, emphasized their right to be heard, stating, "Even though we’re kids, we still matter and you can’t shut us out."