Get RNS’ thoughtful, essential religion reporting every morning. Sign up for free!
(RNS) — A bicycle “boycott ride” targeting six Jewish-owned restaurants in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square Sunday (Nov. 8) was met with a huge counterprotest as hundreds of Philadelphia residents lined up on the streets to buy food from those eateries.
The group, Philly Bike On Your Left, had organized the ride to “show these zionist business owners that we see them for the disgusting humans they are,” according to an Instagram post since deleted.
The ride was widely condemned by the city’s mayor, as well as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who called it “blatantly antisemitic” in a statement.
But hundreds of counterprotesters, many carrying Israeli flags, flooded Rittenhouse Square, forming long lines outside the restaurants for what was called a “food crawl.”
Michael Balaban, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, said the response was intended to counter the boycott.
“The only way to push back at hate is to show love; that’s what you’re seeing here with this huge line back here,” Balaban told ABC7.
On Friday, the federation organized a solidarity lunch at one of the targeted restaurants attended by the governor’s wife, Lori Shapiro, and several state legislators. It also urged the larger Jewish community in Philadelphia to support the restaurant owners and their staff on the day of the protest but “refrain from engaging with any protesters.”
RELATED: Gov. Shapiro calls Philadelphia bike ride protest targeting Jewish-owned businesses ‘blatant antisemitism’
Sunday’s protest was met with a heavy police presence. The Philadelphia Police Department arrested three protesters. A woman was charged with assault, a teen was charged with assault on police and a man was charged with disorderly conduct. Two officers sustained minor injuries; neither required medical treatment. There was no property damage, police said.
Philly Bike On Your Left did not respond to requests for comment.
Of the six restaurants targeted, three — Goldie, K’Far and Dizengoff — are owned by the prominent Philadelphia restaurant group CookNSolo, cofounded by Israeli-American celebrity chef Michael Solomonov.
The three others were Huda, Mac Mart and Schlesinger’s Deli — all three owned by American Jews.
Greater Philadelphia has about 350,000 Jewish residents, with about 200,000 living in the city, according to a 2019 study by the federation. The city has been the target of ongoing pro-Palestinian protests, boycotts and political backlash since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.
Kevin Rachlin, vice president of government relations for the Nexus Project, a nonprofit dedicated to combating antisemitism, said the bike protesters individually may not have been antisemitic, but in their collective intent they were.
“When you take a step back and look at who they are targeting, regardless of their intent, they are targeting American Jewish owners that actually have no real bearing on the state of Israel or policy in the state of Israel,” Rachlin said. “That’s antisemitic.”
Other businesses in Philadelphia that may have businesses in Israel but are not owned by Jews were not targeted for boycott, Rachlin pointed out.
Jewish leaders made the point that the protest fell the day before the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi-led riot against synagogues and Jewish homes and businesses in Germany in 1938. But Philly Bike On Your Left denied on Instagram that there was any connection.
Jason Holtzman, chief of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said the federation’s outreach to the larger community was needed.
“It was not just a boycott,” said Holtzman. “It was a call to drive these businesses out of the city of Philadelphia. Many of these restaurants are part of the fabric of Philadelphia, renowned restaurants. We knew we needed to get people out and mobilize the community.”
RELATED: Is Brad Lander, a pro-Palestinian liberal Zionist heading to Congress, the future of Jewish Democrats?