Workers and Protesters Share Conflicting Views Over Accusations of Antisemitism

A protest against Michael Solomonov, an Israel-born celebrity chef, outside his Philadelphia-based restaurant, Goldie, has ignited a heated debate over whether it was an act of antisemitism or a legitimate protest against Israeli policies. The demonstration, which featured chants accusing Solomonov of genocide, targeted his vegan falafel restaurant amid ongoing criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza.

While public figures, including Pennsylvania’s governor and the White House, condemned the protest as antisemitic, employees and activists have shared a different perspective. Several workers at Solomonov’s restaurants claim they were fired for expressing pro-Palestinian views, alleging that the restaurant’s management raised funds for Israel after the October 7 attacks. They argue the protest was directed at the political stance of the business, not its ownership or the chef’s ethnicity.

The situation has brought to light the intersection of activism, business, and politics within the culinary world, with Solomonov’s restaurants now at the center of a larger debate over the US response to the Israel-Hamas war.