'Get out of our country, Jew': Protesters target Jewish-owned restaurants in Philly

By Samantha Kamman, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, November 12, 2026

Anti-Israel protesters organized a boycott bike ride in Philadelphia and protested several Jewish-owned businesses on the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht.

Philly Bike On Your Left, which describes itself as an “anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective,” led the boycott bike ride on Sunday, which began and ended in Rittenhouse Square and targeted six Jewish-owned businesses, according to ABC News affiliate WPVI. The targeted restaurants included Schlesinger’s Deli, Dizengoff, K’Far and Goldie. The group labeled the businesses “Zionist establishments” and said it was boycotting them in support of Palestinians.

The group claimed the event was “grossly misrepresented,” according to OAN, and that it targeted the businesses because of their owners’ support for Israel, not their Jewish identity. “Any suggestions about the timing of our ride are simply false,” the group claimed in a statement before the ride. Some of the targeted restaurants are owned by the CookNSolo restaurant group, whose Israeli co-owners have publicly supported and fundraised for Israel.

Michael Balaban, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, rejected that explanation, telling WPVI that the businesses were targeted strictly for being Jewish-owned. The federation called for a counter-demonstration, and the nonprofit JewBelong put up billboards at 14 locations across the city urging residents to “boycott the boycott.”

The ride also drew condemnation from state leaders. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday called it “deeply unsettling,” and Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement that the bike ride, “masquerading as a protest to advance the cause of justice, is nothing more than blatant antisemitism designed to intimidate and drive Jewish businesses out of our communities.”

Around 300 anti-Israel protesters and 200 counterprotesters were in the area on the day of the protest, according to Philadelphia police. Three people were arrested: a woman on an assault charge, a man on a disorderly conduct charge and a 17-year-old on a charge of assaulting police. Two officers suffered minor injuries.

Natalie Sanandaji, a survivor of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival massacre, and PragerU political commentator Shabbos Kestenbaum asked questions of the anti-Israel protesters and the counterprotesters during the demonstration on Sunday. 

Kestenbaum asked one of the anti-Israel demonstrators why they decided to plan the protest for the eve of Kristallnacht and whether the purpose was to “send a message.” 

“Get out of our country, Jew!” the protester replied. 

Kestenbaum asked another protester about the demonstration taking place so close to the anniversary of Kristallnacht, and she replied, “Maybe they learn their lesson this time.”

Several other anti-Israel protesters told Kestenbaum, “F—off, Jew!” when he tried to approach them and ask them questions.

Kristallnacht was a wave of anti-Jewish violence across Germany and Austria on Nov. 9-10, 1938. Nazi groups and German civilians targeted Jewish people, homes, businesses and places of worship, burning synagogues and killing at least 91 Jews. About 30,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps.

Sanandaji asked another demonstrator what he meant by the term “occupied Palestine,” and he said that he is referring to “the entire illegitimate state of Israel.” The same demonstrator confirmed to the Nova Music Festival survivor that he does not believe in a two-state solution. 

Counterprotesters also showed up to the event, with WPVI reporting that long lines formed outside K’Far on South 19th Street, as well as Goldie on the 1900 block of Sansom Street.

The next day, members of the Jewish community gathered at the Philadelphia Holocaust Memorial Plaza to commemorate Kristallnacht, WPVI reported. The outlet also noted that another boycott bike ride is planned for next week.