Jewish-Owned Businesses Forced to Close Due to Soaring Antisemitism

Illustrative: Bagel Queue, Montreal, Canada. (M. Rehemtulla /wikipedia)

Amid soaring antisemitism and anti-Zionist activism, dozens of Jewish-owned businesses around the globe faced potential shutdowns or were forced to close after many years of successful activity. These are five examples.

Businesses targeted for being Jewish-owned

1. Bokertov restaurant, Antwerp, Belgium

In January 2026, the Israeli-owned restaurant chain Bokertov closed its final branch in Antwerp, Belgium, amid a campaign of harassment and boycotts by anti-Israel activists. The campaign included vandalism of the chain’s branches, staged protests, and hateful emails. Owner Tom Sas commented: “We’ve been targeted for two years and labeled ‘Zionist killers.’ They want to destroy us, and it’s almost working.”

2. Breads Bakery, New York City, USA

In the same month, Breads Bakery, a popular New York City business with ties to Israel, was plunged into crisis when workers refused catering for Israeli fundraisers for the so-called support of the genocide happening in Palestine. The bakery chain, which has six locations in Manhattan, responded to staff accusations: “We’ve always been a workplace where people of all backgrounds and viewpoints can come together around a common purpose, sharing in the joy and love of a bakery, and we find it troubling that divisive political issues are being introduced into our workplace.” In response to the employees’ charges, the Jewish community of New York City rallied in support of the bakery.

3. Tantura restaurant, Lisbon, Portugal

The popular Israeli restaurant Tantura closed in January 2026 after 10 years, citing rising antisemitism. Since October 7, 2023, the restaurant has been constantly targeted by antisemitic graffiti, online defamation, anti-Israel campaigns, and boycotts. Owners Elad Budenshtiin and Itamar Eliyahu said: “The campaign began with an attempt to destroy the name of our restaurant - a name inspired by a beautiful beach in Israel, where we got married, a place filled with love and meaning. But lies spread quickly. What started as false stories and graffiti meant to provoke us turned into a campaign of hate and distortion.”

4. Avner’s Bakery, Sydney, Australia

In December 2025, after the Hanukkah massacre at Bondi Beach, the Jewish-themed Avner’s Bakery in Sydney, Australia, closed down after two years of antisemitic harassment. Owner Ed Halmagyi reported threatening phone calls, vandalism, and a life-threatening risk for the bakery staff and customers. A poster displayed in the bakery’s window said: “In the wake of the pogrom at Bondi, one thing has become clear — it is no longer possible to make outwardly, publicly, proudly Jewish places and events safe in Australia. And so, we have made the only decision available, one that truly breaks our hearts. Avner’s is closed.” 

5. Shouk food chain, Washington, D.C., USA

In October 2025, the vegan kosher food chain Shouk had to permanently close after 10 years due to boycotts targeting the business for its ties to Israel. The chain’s restaurants were listed on an anti-Israel boycott initiative and categorized as “restaurants that culturally appropriate or sell Israeli settlement products.” At its peak, Shouk operated five successful locations across Maryland and Washington, D.C. However, as boycotts gained traction and anti-Israel activists continuously intimidated customers and staff, sales declined dramatically, leading to a permanent closure.

Organized campaign of hate

These stories are representative of dozens of other cases of Jewish-owned restaurants forced to close or targeted due to antisemitic and anti-Zionist hostile activity. Additionally, in August 2024, the Jewish bagel shop Detroit Institute of Bagels shutdown after staff walked out, protesting the owner’s support of Israel, and stating their core belief does not allow them to work for a Zionist. More recently, attacks on Jewish-owned restaurants occurred in London, UK and Leipzig, Germany.

Coupled with a surge in attacks on synagogues across the US, these supposedly isolated cases merge into an organized campaign of antisemitic and anti-Zionist hate aiming to target any business or institution with Jewish or Israeli appearance, whether a restaurant, a bakery, a synagogue, or any other institution related to Jews and Israelis.

Wrap up

In the absence of a proper, assertive response from the authorities, Jewish businesses, synagogues, and institutions will continue to suffer from arson, vandalism, threats, and closures. With Jewish lives and livelihoods jeopardized around the world, Jewish and Israeli communities face dark times, a never-ending Kristallnacht of the 21^st century.

---

Ofek Kehila (Israel, 1987) is a scholar of Spanish Golden Age literature and Latin American literature of the 20th and 21st centuries. His research bridges the gap between those traditions, highlighting their aesthetic, cultural, and historical dialogue. He holds a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2022) and was a postdoctoral fellow at Freie Universität Berlin (2023-2025).