Philadelphia officials condemn planned boycott of Jewish-owned businesses

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Attorney General Dave Sunday have condemned a planned bicycle boycott targeting Jewish-owned restaurants in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. The protest, organized by groups including Philly Bike On Your Left, Boycott CookNSolo, and Philly Writers Against the War on Gaza, is scheduled for November 8.

Officials and Jewish advocacy groups have characterized the demonstration as antisemitic, noting that the date falls on the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht. Organizers have described their actions as anti-Zionist, but local leaders argue that singling out businesses based on the owners' Jewish identity is an attempt to intimidate the community.

The National Jewish Advocacy Center has issued legal preservation notices to the organizers in anticipation of litigation and has deployed attorneys to document the event. In response to the boycott, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is organizing a community food crawl to support the targeted establishments, which include Huda, K’Far Cafe, Mac Mart, Dizengoff, Goldie, and Schlesinger’s.