Philadelphia leaders split over bike ride targeting Jewish-owned restaurants

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, and Gov. Josh Shapiro have all publicly condemned a bicycle ride planned for November 8 that targets Jewish-owned businesses in Center City.

The event is scheduled for the eve of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi pogrom of 1938 that destroyed Jewish property across Germany and Austria. Jewish groups in the city argue this timing is deliberate and antisemitic. Organizers, however, describe the date as a coincidence.

The ride is organized by Philly Bike On Your Left, Philly Writers Against the War on Gaza, Boycott CookNSolo, and Philly Solidarity Calendar. An Instagram post promoting the event, published on October 30, invites participants to Rittenhouse Square. The post describes the goal as showing "Zionist business owners" that the group sees them for "disgusting human beings." It also pledges to "flag as many bikes as we can" to show solidarity with the Palestinian community.

Parker stated that freedom of speech and freedom from fear are not competing values in her administration. "Singling out businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city," she said in a statement. Sunday, a Republican, argued that the organizers are using "oldest antisemitic tropes and tactics in history" by explicitly targeting businesses based on the owners' faith.

A spokesperson for Shapiro, a Jewish Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate, called the ride "blatant antisemitism designed to intimidate and drive Jewish businesses out of our communities." The spokesperson noted that the governor's official residence was set on fire by a man enraged by Israel’s conduct in Gaza during Passover last year.

Boycott CookNSolo, a group named for the restaurant chain owned by chef Michael Solomonov, issued a statement explaining the boycott. "We call for a boycott because the owners materially and ideologically support the ongoing occupation and genocide of Palestinians," the group said. The post claimed that profits from these enterprises fund the occupation and pro-genocide interest groups. It is not clear to outside observers how the targeted local restaurants are directly tied to the occupation or why they are considered pro-genocide.

Solomonov, who declined to comment, has previously been targeted for fundraising for United Hatzalah, a first responder rescue group. Other owners were reportedly targeted for expressing support for Israel on social media after the October 7, 2023, Hamas raids that killed 1,200 people inside Israel. Boycott CookNSolo dismissed criticism of the Kristallnacht timing as a "cynical take" that distracts from current events in the West Bank and Gaza.

David Levin, president of the Philadelphia Board of Rabbis, said he is "gratified" by the support from interfaith leaders. He advised those sympathetic to the restaurants to "Keep the streets empty and the restaurants full" to avoid confrontation. Allan Domb, owner of Schlesinger’s Deli and a former city councilman, called the targeting "blantant antisemitism" but noted the "amazing" support from the community. The ride is set to begin in Rittenhouse Square on Saturday, November 8.