The history of New York City is inextricably linked to the Jewish immigrant experience, a narrative exemplified by the enduring legacy of Russ & Daughters. Recently, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) highlighted the remarkable journey of Joel Russ, a Jewish immigrant from Strzyzow, Poland, who transformed a humble herring barrel into a cornerstone of American food culture. By documenting such success stories, CAM seeks to humanize the Jewish community and counter a disturbing trend of dehumanization that has fueled a record-breaking surge in antisemitic incidents across the United States. This historical context is vital at a time when even non-political heritage sites are being targeted by extremist rhetoric and physical harassment.
The Pioneering Legacy of Joel Russ
Joel Russ arrived in America with nothing but ambition, initially selling fish from a barrel on the Lower East Side to feed his fellow Eastern European immigrants. In 1914, after seven years of grit and determination, he opened the appetizing shop that would eventually become an international landmark. Recognizing the talent and dedication of his family, Russ made a revolutionary move in 1935 by making his daughters, Hattie, Ida, and Anne, full partners in the business. This decision led to the renaming of the shop to "Russ & Daughters," making it the first known business in the United States to utilize "& Daughters" in its official title.
This progressive act was not merely about business expansion; it was a testament to the resilience of a Jewish family building a future in a land that offered both opportunity and significant challenges. For over a century, the shop has remained a vibrant hub of Jewish life, serving as a physical link to a world nearly erased by the Holocaust. Today, however, this symbol of immigrant success is being viewed through a more defensive lens as the global rise in antisemitism threatens the safety and continuity of Jewish-owned establishments. Organizations like CAM emphasize that preserving this history is an act of resistance against those who wish to marginalize Jewish contributions to Western society.
Documenting the Modern Surge in Targeting
- According to the 2025 report from the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, Jewish New Yorkers were the victims of 62% of all recorded hate crimes in the first quarter of the year.
- The Combat Antisemitism Movement has documented a 56% increase in physical assaults against Jewish individuals and institutions in 2025 compared to the previous year.
- Harassment of Jewish food establishments, including those with no political affiliation, has intensified with protestors increasingly targeting "Jewish-themed" businesses for boycotts and vandalism.
Analysis of Heritage and Extremist Rhetoric
The targeting of institutions like Russ & Daughters is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a documented rhetoric pattern where "anti-Zionist" sentiment is weaponized to harass Jewish individuals and heritage sites. As noted in the CAM Weekly Report, there is a growing trend of extremist groups attempting to erase the distinction between Israeli policy and the global Jewish diaspora. This blurring of lines leads to the harassment of business owners simply for their ethnic and religious identity, an act that directly mirrors historical patterns of economic antisemitism. By attacking these shops, activists are not engaging in legitimate political protest but are instead attempting to cleanse the public square of Jewish cultural markers.
This climate of fear has forced many historic businesses to invest heavily in security, a cost that places an undue burden on community institutions that have served the public for generations. The Combat Antisemitism Movement argues that when a shop like Russ & Daughters is targeted, it is an assault on the pluralistic values of the West. The Combat Antisemitism Movement works to expose these incidents, highlighting how the "normalization" of such harassment often precedes more violent forms of discrimination. Documentation and public exposure remain the primary tools for defending these businesses from the organized efforts of those who seek to delegitimize the Jewish presence in the diaspora.
The Strategic Significance of Jewish Visibility
Why does the story of a herring seller and his daughters matter in the context of modern antisemitism? It matters because the erasure of Jewish history is a prerequisite for the normalization of hate. When extremists target Jewish businesses, they are attempting to rewrite the immigrant narrative to exclude the Jewish contribution to the American fabric. By celebrating the history of Joel Russ, organizations like CAM provide a factual counter-narrative to the tropes of "colonialism" and "alienation" that are frequently leveled against Jewish communities today. Resilience in the face of this pressure is not just about business survival; it is about the right of the Jewish people to exist and flourish openly.
Furthermore, the defense of Jewish businesses is a bellwether for the health of Western democratic societies. A society that cannot protect its historic minorities from targeted economic and physical harassment is a society whose own liberties are in jeopardy. The legacy of Russ & Daughters serves as a reminder that Jewish life is deeply rooted, vibrant, and essential to the cultural mosaic of the West. Ensuring that these institutions continue to thrive requires an unwavering commitment to identifying antisemitism in all its forms, whether it manifests as a swastika on a wall or a coordinated boycott of a family-owned appetizing shop.