Philadelphia Boycott Backfires, Drawing Crowds to Jewish Restaurants

An attempted boycott of six Jewish-owned restaurants in Philadelphia backfired spectacularly on Sunday, November 8, when hundreds of residents flocked to the establishments, creating lines that stretched for blocks. The protest, organized by the pro-Palestinian group Philly Bike On Your Left, targeted the restaurants for their alleged support of Israel, calling them "Zionist" and demanding they leave the city. In response, counter-protesters organized a show of support, filling the restaurants and demonstrating solidarity with the owners. Police estimated that around 500 people participated in the dual events, with approximately 300 supporting the boycott and 200 participating in the counter-demonstration. The events occurred on the eve of Kristallnacht, the 1938 Nazi pogroms against Jews in Germany, a timing that drew strong condemnation from Jewish organizations who deemed the campaign antisemitic. Clashes erupted between the two groups, leading to police intervention and the arrest of three individuals, including a teenager who assaulted officers. Two officers sustained minor injuries. Despite the confrontations, patrons continued to arrive at the restaurants throughout the evening. Yehuda Sichel, owner of Huda, reported unprecedented crowds, while Marty Lieberman, owner of Mac Mart, opened her restaurant on a Sunday for the first time to accommodate the surge of customers. Lieberman noted that the supporters effectively shielded the restaurants from the boycotters.