Mamdani July 4 speech evokes biblical spies, whose lies got Jews condemned to 40 years in desert, rabbis say

Rabbi David Wolpe criticized a speech made by a local mayor on July 4, comparing it to the biblical spies who misled the Israelites and condemned them to wander for 40 years in the desert.

Wolpe emphasized that the mayor's comments were thoughtless and self-sabotaging, reflecting on the significant impact of such statements on the Jewish community.