New billboards urge people to ‘boycott the boycott’ of Jewish-owned businesses
Across Philadelphia, 14 billboards funded by JewBelong urge residents to oppose a planned boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants tied to solidarity with Palestinians. The initiative follows a flyer from Philly Bike On Your Left calling for a boycott of so-called Zionist establishments in Rittenhouse Square on Nov. 8, 2026, timed near Kristallnacht’s anniversary. City officials, including Mayor Cherelle Parker and Attorney General Dave Sunday, condemned the move, while the ADL urged people to dine at the targeted spots to counteract antisemitism. Reactions highlighted tensions between pro-Palestinian activism and Jewish communities, with public statements from participants defending or clarifying their positions. The episode underscores ongoing frictions over antisemitism, political expression, and economic pressure in urban civic life.
Dive Deeper:
JewBelong placed billboards at 14 locations in Philadelphia stating that violence against Jewish businesses is unacceptable and encouraging a counter-movement to the boycott.
Philly Bike On Your Left announced a planned boycott of several Jewish-owned restaurants, describing the action as solidarity with Palestinians and naming Mac Mart, K’Far Café, Huda, Goldie, Schlesinger’s, and Dizengoff for November 8, 2026.
The boycott initiative coincides with the anniversary period of Kristallnacht, linking contemporary protests to a historical wave of antisemitic violence and property destruction in 1938.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday publicly condemned the planned boycott on social media, signaling official concern and opposition.
Baseball legend Reggie Jackson, a Philadelphia-area native, likewise condemned the boycott, drawing a personal parallel to racism experienced in the 1960s.
The Anti-Defamation League issued a pledge urging people to support Jewish-owned restaurants and described the boycott as antisemitic, while noting the need to resist hate.
Philly Bike On Your Left later stated that their ride had been misrepresented and reaffirmed their stance against racism, fascism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and colonialism.