The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia convened a solidarity lunch today at Dizengoff in Center City, Philadelphia, bringing together elected officials, faith leaders and community partners to stand with local restaurants targeted by an antisemitic boycott campaign.

The gathering comes ahead of a planned November 8 bicycle protest targeting several Philadelphia restaurants over their perceived connections to Israel or Zionism.

Among those in attendance were Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, State Senators Sharif Street and Judy Schwank, State Representatives Ben Waxman, Amen Brown and Tarik Khan, City Councilmember Anthony Phillips, Pastor Carl Day of Culture Changing Christians and Andrew Goretsky of ADL Philadelphia. Representatives from the offices of Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, State Senator Anthony H. Williams and Holy Family University also participated.

Organized by JCRC, which leads and coordinates the Jewish Federation’s Center to Combat Antisemitism, the lunch demonstrated a united commitment to ensuring that Jewish-owned and Israeli-owned businesses can operate freely and safely in Philadelphia without fear of harassment or intimidation.

The gathering also sent a clear message: these restaurants are an integral part of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, economy and cultural fabric. No business should be made to feel unwelcome in our city because of its owners’ identity, heritage or perceived political beliefs.

The Jewish Federation has strongly condemned the planned boycott, emphasizing that while peaceful protest and freedom of expression are fundamental rights, targeting local establishments for intimidation and exclusion crosses a troubling line.

The Jewish Federation continues to encourage Philadelphians to support the affected restaurants through their patronage while respecting the wishes of business owners who have expressed concerns about large crowds and potential confrontations outside their establishments during Sunday’s planned protest.

Today’s gathering underscored that Philadelphia’s civic, political and faith communities stand together against antisemitism and all forms of hate. As the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, we remain committed to protecting the dignity, safety and belonging of every business owner, employee and person in our city. 

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About the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Since 1901, the Jewish Federation has served as the hub of the region’s Jewish communities, providing an infrastructure of support for Jewish people and organizations in need. Through grants, emergency funding, restricted gifts, endowments, and our partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools, we annually invest in caring for those in need, combating antisemitism and global crisis, and securing a vibrant Jewish future. For more information, please visit: jewishphilly.org.

For media inquiries, please contact phillyfed@redbanyan.com.