Activists Target Jewish and Israeli Restaurants in Center City
A planned bicycle protest aimed at boycotting Jewish-owned and Israeli-owned businesses in Philadelphia sparked intense backlash from community leaders and elected officials. In a post published on November 5, 2026, the Combat Antisemitism Movement highlighted commentary by its chief executive officer, Sacha Roytman, regarding Philadelphia activists targeting Jewish establishments on the eve of Kristallnacht.
Scheduled for November 8 at Rittenhouse Square, promotional fliers declared, "These Zionist establishments must go!" and "No business for Zionists." On Instagram, Philly Bike On Your Left wrote:
"Ride around Rittenhouse with us as we show these zio business owners that we see them for the disgusting humans they are."
The flier named multiple local businesses, including modern Israeli restaurant Dizengoff, sandwich shop Huda, Schlesinger’s Restaurant and Delicatessen, Mac Mart, K’Far Cafe, and kosher falafel restaurant Goldie.
Timing and Widespread Condemnation
The event drew immediate condemnation due to its schedule coinciding with the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the November 1938 Nazi pogrom in Germany and Austria during which mobs torched synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes and businesses, and assaulted Jewish civilians. According to the Times of Israel, Jewish organizations condemned the ride as blatantly antisemitic for targeting business owners based on their Jewish identity.
In a joint statement reported by Fox News Digital, the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia, American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and StandWithUs called the demonstration "Jew-Hatred, plain and simple." The groups emphasized that political expression does not grant license for harassment and discrimination against business owners.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's office also condemned the demonstration, with spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky stating that the bike ride, masquerading as a protest to advance the cause of justice, is "nothing more than blatant antisemitism designed to intimidate and drive Jewish businesses out of our communities."
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday noted that targeting restaurateurs because they are Jewish engages in "some of the oldest antisemitic tropes and tactics in history," while Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stated that singling out businesses because of the owners' Jewish background is unacceptable.
Owners and Community Respond with Solidarity
While boycott organizers claimed their campaign targeted proprietors who support Israel, affected business owners and patrons pushed back against the intimidation. Yehuda Sichel, owner of Huda, told Fox News Digital that as the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, witnessing Jewish businesses targeted on the eve of the Kristallnacht anniversary was deeply personal. Mac Mart owner Marti Lieberman told Fox News Digital that while it is "heartbreaking" to have to defend her business, she hoped the attention would shed light on what other small-business owners were facing.
Schlesinger’s Deli owner Allan Domb, a former Philadelphia city councilman, said he was heartened by the broad support he received, calling the hatred against four business owners "blatant antisemitism."