Leaders in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, alongside Jewish advocacy groups, have strongly condemned a planned "boycott ride" targeting businesses in Rittenhouse Square that are described as pro-Israel or "Zionist establishments." The event, organized by groups including Philly Bike On Your Left and Boycott CookNSolo, was slated for November 8 and prompted widespread condemnation for its perceived antisemitic nature.
The organizations promoted the boycott with language that included "show these zio business owners that we see them for the disgusting humans they are," according to a statement posted on Instagram. The flyer for the event listed Philadelphia businesses such as Dizengoff, Huda, Schlesinger’s, and Mac Mart, all of which are owned by individuals of Israeli or Jewish heritage.
Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Philadelphia, the American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and StandWithUs, issued a joint statement calling the boycott "Jew-Hatred, plain and simple." They urged city and state leadership to publicly denounce the event. The statement emphasized the distinction between criticizing government policies and targeting businesses based on their owners' Jewish identity or perceived ties to Israel.
The timing of the boycott was also noted as particularly concerning, as it coincided with the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, a Nazi-orchestrated pogrom against Jews in Germany and Austria.
Mayor Cherelle Parker's office, through the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR), stated, "Acts of bigotry, violence and hate cannot be tolerated, and we will never stand by and allow businesses, individuals or jobs to be run out of our city, full stop." Executive Director Renee Chenault-Fattah reaffirmed the commission's commitment to combating racism and antisemitism.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro echoed these sentiments in a statement, calling the bike ride "blatant antisemitism designed to intimidate and drive Jewish businesses out of our communities." His office confirmed that the Pennsylvania State Police were working with local authorities to ensure safety. "There is no place for that in our Commonwealth," Shapiro's spokesperson stated.
Owners of the targeted businesses reported receiving significant public support. Marti Lieberman, owner of Mac Mart, described the situation as "heartbreaking" but expressed hope that the attention would highlight the challenges faced by small business owners. "Our hope is that this attention also sheds some light on what small business owners are dealing with, often quietly, and brings accountability to those choosing to target and tear down businesses without considering the real people behind them," Lieberman said.
Yehuda Sichel, owner of Huda, expressed pride in his Jewish heritage and support for Israel, stating that neither should make his business a target. "As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, seeing Jewish businesses targeted on the eve of the Kristallnacht anniversary is deeply personal," Sichel said, adding that his business had seen an outpouring of positive support in response to the boycott announcement. "Our doors are open to everyone, and we’re not going anywhere."