Lawmakers Attend ‘Solidarity Lunch’ at Jewish-Owned Philadelphia Restaurant

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia held a solidarity lunch at Dizengoff in Center City with elected officials, faith leaders and others to stand with local restaurants targeted by an antisemitic boycott, Nov. 6, 2026. (Courtesy)

Jessica Russak-Hoffman | JNS

Pennsylvania first lady Lori Shapiro, wife of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner joined a solidarity lunch at Dizengoff Nov. 6, two days before a planned anti-Israel bicycle “boycott ride” targeting the restaurant and other local Jewish-owned businesses.

The Jewish Community Relations Council, which is part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, organized the gathering at the Center City restaurant.

“No business should be made to feel unwelcome in our city because of its owner’s identity, heritage or perceived political beliefs,” the Federation said.

State senators Sharif Street and Judy Schwank, state representatives Ben Waxman, Amen Brown and Tarik Khan and Philadelphia City Council member Anthony Phillips also attended the gathering. There were also representatives from the staffs of Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Pennsylvania attorney general Dave Sunday, City Council president Kenyatta Johnson and state senator Anthony Williams and from Holy Family University, JNS was told.

Pastor Carl Day, of Culture Challenging Christians, and Andrew Goretsky, of the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia, also took part.

Sunday’s boycott ride targeted Jewish-owned restaurants and fell the day before the anniversary of the 1938 Kristallnacht pogroms.

The Federation urged supporters, who plan to participate in a pro-Israel and pro-Jewish food crawl at the same time and location as the boycott ride, to avoid engaging protesters.

“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,” the Federation said.