Five Minutes Early

Editor’s Note: Although Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove leads a Conservative congregation, his remarks address a shared concern that transcends denominational lines. The safety and security of klal Yisrael is a collective responsibility, and his message resonates across the Jewish communal spectrum.

This was not political theater or a campaign rally. It was Shabbos Bereishis—the first Shabbos of a new Torah cycle. A moment of renewal and reflection, when klal Yisrael begins again with Bereishis bara Elokim, reaffirming that our lives are bound to the Ribbono shel Olam’s design for His people.

That morning, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, spiritual leader of Park Avenue Synagogue, spoke at Congregation Beth Elohim with striking clarity:

“To be clear, unequivocal and on the record, I believe Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community.”

The reaction was immediate. It wasn’t shock—it was relief. Applause broke out because someone had finally voiced what many were already feeling.

Rabbi Cosgrove outlined Mamdani’s troubling record: refusing to condemn chants to “globalize the intifada,” denying Israel’s legitimacy as a Jewish state, calling to arrest Israel’s prime minister, and repeatedly accusing Israel of “genocide.” These are not careless slips; they reflect a worldview. For someone seeking to govern a city with the largest Jewish population outside of Eretz Yisrael, this is not peripheral—it is central.

He stressed that Zionism and Jewish self-determination are not mere political opinions but inseparable components of Jewish identity. To ask a Yid to set these aside is like asking him to abandon his emunah and mitzvos. This isn’t about supporting or opposing any specific Israeli politician; it’s about the right to live as proud Jews, openly and without apology.

To illustrate his point, he shared a mashal: in a film, a character quips, “even Jews are welcome.” It may sound humorous, but it reveals something bitter. If inclusion has to be stated, it was never assumed to exist. So when Mamdani says “Zionists are welcome,” it isn’t reassurance—it’s a warning. Conditional belonging is not real belonging.

Then came the line that defined the moment: “Five minutes early is better than five minutes too late.” This wasn’t just rhetoric. It was a sober reminder of how ignoring warning signs has harmed Jewish communities before. Rabbi Cosgrove named Mamdani for what he represents—a real threat—and expressed support for Andrew Cuomo. Not because Cuomo is flawless, but because between stable governance and open hostility, the choice is clear. “I choose steadiness over spectacle,” he said.

He also turned his attention to a different audience: younger, progressive Jews who may not feel threatened by Mamdani’s rhetoric or view Israel as central to their identity. Rather than dismissing them, he urged the community to reach them. These are our friends, our children, our grandchildren—the neshamas who must be met with warmth and ahavas Yisrael, not scolding.

He spoke of love in a way that echoed Avraham Avinu’s devotion to his family and his people. This love is rooted in responsibility and achrayus. A Yid naturally prioritizes his family, his kehillah, his people. That’s not selfishness—it’s survival. To deny the Jewish right to Eretz Yisrael is not a policy disagreement; it is an attack on the foundation of Jewish identity.

This election is about more than routine issues. It is about whether the next mayor of New York will view the Jewish community as an integral part of the city or as outsiders to be merely “tolerated.” We cannot afford to be passive.

Here in Queens, this warning is personal—and it must ignite a united response as one kehillah. This is a time to come together with clarity and resolve, to rise above divisions and act with purpose. Now is the time to unite, to stand shoulder to shoulder as neighbors and as Yidden, safeguarding what we’ve built and strengthening it together. Our Yiddishkeit is lived openly: walking to shul on Main Street in Kew Gardens Hills, sending our children to yeshivos, wearing yarmulkes in public, and building vibrant kehillos in Forest Hills, Rego Park, and Jamaica Estates. We know how quickly security can erode when the wrong people rise to power. For many, this is not abstract—it is lived history.

“Five minutes early is better than five minutes too late.” This is more than a memorable line. It is a musar haskel. As New Yorkers and as Yidden, we carry an obligation: to speak clearly, act decisively, and protect our kehillah before danger reaches our doorstep.

As the pasuk teaches, “Hinei lo yanum v’lo yishan Shomer Yisrael” — “Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” Hashem protects us, but He also expects us to act with seichel and achrayus.

This is one of those moments.

By Shabsie Saphirstein