In Philadelphia, a boycott call fills Jewish-owned restaurants

In Philadelphia on Sunday 8 November 2026, customers queued outside restaurants that several pro-Palestinian groups had called on people to boycott. The lead organiser, Philly Bike On Your Left, named six Jewish-owned restaurants in the city centre. The group objects to the owners’ support for Israel. Supporters of the restaurateurs gathered around Rittenhouse Square that day ¹²³.

Two gatherings in Rittenhouse Square

Cyclists and counterprotesters were already in Rittenhouse Square before noon local time. Palestinian flags accompanied the cyclists. Supporters of the restaurateurs waved Israeli flags. Police estimated that about 300 people attended the pro-Palestinian rally, 200 of them on bicycles, and about 200 attended the counterprotest. Near the procession, customers were waiting to place their orders. A photographer for the Forward documented the queue outside Goldie, which reporters from local station 6abc also observed ¹²³⁴⁶.

Police reported three arrests and minor injuries to two officers. They reported no property damage. The gatherings dispersed at about 1.15pm local time ¹²⁴.

What the group and the mayor said

In a statement issued on 7 November, the group defended its choice of restaurants on the grounds that their owners had, it said, supported Israel. It rejected the accusation of antisemitism. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker had defended the right to peaceful protest while condemning the singling out of businesses because their owners were Jewish ¹²⁴.

What the date meant to one restaurateur

For Yehuda Sichel, the owner of Huda, the date had a family connection. He said his grandfather had witnessed Kristallnacht in Germany. On 9 and 10 November 1938, synagogues were burned and Jewish businesses ransacked in Nazi Germany. The boycott organisers deny choosing the date to coincide with the anniversary ¹²⁴⁵⁶. For the American context at the time, see our feature on antisemitism in the United States before the Holocaust.

Sources

1. Maggie Prosser, Brett Sholtis et Dana Munro, « The controversial ‘Boycott Ride’ drew a large rally in support of Philadelphia’s Jewish-owned eateries », The Philadelphia Inquirer, 8 novembre 2026, https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/boycott-ride-philadelphia-jewish-owned-restaurants-protest-20261108.html
2. Ross DiMattei et Eva Andersen, « 3 arrested as pro-Palestinian bike ride, counterprotest draw hundreds to Philadelphia », CBS Philadelphia, mis à jour le 9 novembre 2026, https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/bicycle-boycott-ride-rittenhouse-square-philadelphia/
3. Sharifa Jackson et la rédaction de 6abc, « Boycott of Jewish-owned Philly businesses draws counterprotest », WPVI, 8–9 novembre 2026, https://6abc.com/post/boycott-bike-ride-pro-palestinian-protest-targets-jewish-owned-restaurants-rittenhouse-square/20024381/
4. Danny Freeman, Eduardo Cuevas et Lauren Mascarenhas, « Hundreds of counterprotesters overwhelm ‘boycott ride’ targeting businesses believed to be pro-Israel in Philadelphia », CNN, repris par KIFI, 8 novembre 2026, https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2026/11/08/bicycle-boycott-ride-targeting-jewish-owned-businesses-in-philadelphia-draws-hundreds-of-counterprotesters/
5. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, « La Nuit de cristal », Encyclopédie multimédia de la Shoah, notice consultée le 9 novembre 2026, https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/fr/article/kristallnacht
6. Matthew Hatcher, « Photos: Pro-Israel counter-protesters overwhelm anti-Zionist bike rally in Philadelphia, where police arrest 3 », The Forward, 8 novembre 2026, https://forward.com/news/861566/philadelphia-bike-rally-rittenhouse-square-counterprotest/

The story in 30 seconds

Read the main facts at a glance and share the link.

1. On 8 November 2026, several groups led by Philly Bike On Your Left called for a boycott of six Jewish-owned restaurants in Philadelphia.
2. Police estimated there were 300 pro-Palestinian protesters, 200 of them on bicycles, and 200 counterprotesters.
3. Customers queued to support the restaurants. Police reported three arrests and minor injuries to two officers.

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