Jewish comedian Mordechai Rosenfeld, known as Modi, announced that he will not attend the annual Downtown Seder in Lower Manhattan after learning that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is scheduled to participate. The Passover-themed event is a benefit supporting a nonprofit focused on peacebuilding, and Israeli musician David Broza is also expected to appear.

In a statement shared on social media, Modi’s representatives said they were unaware of Mamdani’s participation until the same day and confirmed that the comedian would no longer attend. The decision follows ongoing controversy surrounding the mayor’s positions on Israel.

Mamdani faced criticism during his mayoral campaign over his views on Israel and drew further backlash on his first day in office by rescinding executive orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams. Those orders had recognized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism and barred mayoral appointees and agency staff from boycotting or divesting from Israel.