Jewish comic Modi drops out of 'Downtown Seder' after learning of Mamdani's attendance

Modi Rosenfeld's manager said the Modern Orthodox comedian was 'blindsided' with news of the mayor's participation in the benefit with David Broza and Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie

By Will Bredderman

Israeli-American comedian Modi Rosenfeld, known simply as "Modi," pulled out of a Passover-themed benefit Monday after his manager revealed that the Modern Orthodox entertainer had been "blindsided" with the news that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani would participate in the Lower Manhattan event.

Quoting Jewish Insider's initial report on the mayor's scheduled involvement in the 33rd Annual "Downtown Seder" at impresario Michael Dorf's venue City Winery, Rosenfeld's official Instagram account announced the Tel Aviv-born, Long Island-reared performer had withdrawn from the event.

"We were not told Mamdani was participating in this event until today," the post read. "Modi will no longer be attending."

Reached by phone, Rosenfeld's manager told JI that they had committed to featuring in the festivities months ago — and said the venue should have notified them earlier that the mayor, whose political initiation began with anti-Israel campus activism, would be part of the program as well.

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