Whether you love it or hate it, New York remains the microcosm of the world, and in the days following the Hamas terrorist attack, New York became the central stage for international awareness. And, in true New York fashion, it’s all about what’s on the plate. While thousands of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrators flood the streets every day, the city's restaurants have also rallied to support the cause.
Students from Columbia u light memorial candles in New York
Read more:
Some of the city’s most iconic restaurants have committed to donate 100% of their earnings during these days to humanitarian aid organizations for Israel. Others have created new dishes in solidarity with Israel, and some have initiated actions such as moments of silence or the display of Israeli flags and blue-and-white decorations, and no less important – published solidarity statements on their social media accounts to thousands of followers, despite concerns of potential negative impacts on their businesses.
7 View gallery
Fundraising evening for Israel of the Jewish Food Association in New York
(Photo: Courtesy)
While there are several Jewish and Israeli institutions in the city that have not appeared on this list, it keeps growing each day. From sushi to steak, New Yorkers are contributing to Israel, one bite at a time, even if they are not necessarily aware of it.
For example, the renowned Jewish delicatessen 2nd Avenue Deli, a long-standing New York institution that appears on every food lover's must-visit list, including ours, has donated all its profits from its two locations to the United Hatzalah organization. Considering that the establishment sells more than 1,000 pastrami sandwiches per day at a price of $26 each, this amounts to a significant donation.
But that's not all. All sales from last Thursday in the New York and Philadelphia branches of the restaurant "Lazer Wolf," owned by Israeli chef Michael Solomonov, who tragically lost his brother during an encounter with Hezbollah while serving as a soldier in the Golani Brigade, also went to support the organization. Over $100,000 flowed in from these branches, as well as from the Israeli breakfast cafe "Kfar", his award-winning restaurant "Zahav" in Philadelphia, and Goldie.
7 View gallery
Bereaved brother Michael Solomonov, at his Lazer Wolf restaurant, donated $100,000 from his restaurants
(Photo: Colby Kingston)
Even all sales of the "Love Box" cupcakes from the popular confectionery chain "Baked By Melissa" will go to Magen David Adom (MDA). And it doesn't stop there—some of the earnings from Upsidepizza branches throughout the city will also go to MDA, thanks to the initiative of former New York City mayor and media tycoon Michael Bloomberg, who announced that he would match any donation made to the organization.
Goldbelly, a food delivery company specializing in gourmet frozen meals offering menus from over 850 restaurants, has also announced that it will donate all its profits for a day to support the children and citizens of Israel who are victims of terrorist attacks.
Dark days
Chef Eyal Shani, who owns several businesses in New York (HaMiznon, North Abraxas, The Salon), has also joined the effort. Ten percent of the income from Eyal Shani's New York "HaMiznon" branches will be donated daily to support those affected by terror attacks in Israel until the end of the month. At "The Salon," a special (non-seated) meal will be held at a price of $450 per ticket, with all proceeds going towards humanitarian aid for Israel.
"We stand by Israel and hope for a future full of peace and brighter days. Join us so that we can eat, be together, and raise money to support our friends, family, and loved ones who have been hurt during these attacks," reads an invitation.
New York's "Lehamim" bakery branches have started selling special heart-shaped challah in partnership with Israeli baker and global internet sensation Ben (Jinji) Siman Tov. All proceeds from the challah sales will be donated to Magen David Adom.
In a launch video that has already garnered nearly a million views, Siman Tov explains, "The last few days have been very dark, but we're here to bring the light. Everyone asks me how one can support Israel and its victims in these difficult times, so I reached out to my friends at Lehamim bakery, and together, we're baking from the heart. Challah symbolizes unity. The braids woven together are like how we stand together during these extraordinary times. We braided this challah in the shape of a heart to express our solidarity and support for those who have been hurt and affected by the events."
Indeed, these challahs quickly sold out: dozens gathered in front of the upper West branch before opening, and by 10:30 AM, all the challahs were gone. The Bagel Boss bagel chain launched a special blue and white bagel, with all proceeds from its sales going to The Joint organization.
The confectionery William Greenberg Desserts has launched a series of "blue and white" cookies based on the iconic black and white cookies of the city, with all proceeds going to benefit the IDF soldiers. The Mediterranean restaurant "Lashevet" also announced that all the proceeds from its hot beverages will be donated to the soldiers. "Yalla Challah" in Los Angeles will donate 26% of its income to the Friends of the IDF (FIDF) in the United States to purchase emergency supplies for the IDF.
The kosher steakhouse Reserve Cut, located in the financial district of Manhattan, will contribute 10% of its overall income to the benefit of IDF soldiers. "To demonstrate our unwavering commitment to our soldiers and the State of Israel," the restaurant said. "We pray for the well-being of all our brothers and sisters in Israel." The Japanese chef's sushi meals at Sushi by Bou at the Manhattan and Astoria locations will donate 100% of their earnings to the humanitarian assistance organization "Israel Friends."
Throughout the week, the upscale Italian restaurants of the acclaimed Jewish chef Missy Robbins and the restaurateur Sean Feeney will donate a percentage (an unspecified percentage) of their earnings from their iconic restaurants: "Missy," "Missy Pasta," and "Fini Pizza," to the UJA Federation of New York, which has already raised over $10 million for victims of the attacks.
The American chef's restaurant, Twenty Three Grand, has also announced that it will donate a percentage of its weekend earnings to the Sephardic Heritage Museum in New York for the benefit of those affected by the crisis. The restaurant group Saga Hospitality, which operates "Crown Shy," "Saga," and "Over Story," is contributing 20% of its food sales (until October 18) to the organization "Dror Israel," which provides emergency response and mental health services to victims of the attack.
Other well-known Israeli and Jewish restaurants have also expressed support for Israel and condemnation of Hamas through various initiatives. The restaurant "Balaboosta," owned by chef Einat Admony, has temporarily closed up shop. In her statement, she said, "We are a restaurant owned by a Jewish person, and in solidarity, we will remain silent today. It's amazing what happens to the Jewish people in times of trouble or when they are pushed into a corner," Admony said.
"Especially when I'm married to a non-Jew who sees it from the outside. Everyone comes together when needed, regardless of color, religion, or nationality. We see it both here in the city and in the country. It's amazing. And we will need to be even stronger in the coming weeks as counter-protests intensify."
Admony was also one of the chefs and influencers in the culinary world who contributed in a unique way during a special donation evening. She, along with others, cooked a special meal donated by the "Jewish Food Society" in the city. The proceeds were transferred to the "Asif" culinary center in Tel Aviv, which provided over ten thousand meals to hospitals, soldiers, and families who had been evacuated from their homes.
Several restaurants, including "12 Chairs", "Mesiba" ,"Cleveland 19" "Zucker's Bagels & Smoked Fish", "Nish Nush", "Hummus Kitchen", and more, posted social media messages expressing complete solidarity with Israel including links to Israeli aid organizations. Some of these posts faced backlash and calls for boycotts from certain diners. Some of these restaurants had to disable comments on their posts due to extreme trolling by diners. This is also what happened to the iconic steakhouse in Houston, Taste of Texas.
Now, the Starbucks coffee shop chain is in the hot seat after its employee union, representing over 9,000 baristas across the United States, posted on its social media profiles in close proximity to the Hamas terrorist attack, a post with an image of a bulldozer and the accusation that the Israeli occupation had turned Gaza into a "mass prison". Above it, the union stated: "Solidarity with Palestine."
Local employee unions of the chain in Chicago, Boston, and Iowa also posted on their official social media accounts condemning Israel for Hamas's attacks, apartheid, and oppression of the Palestinian people. "We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemn the IDF for its senseless and cruel bombing of Palestinians innocent of guilt, murder, and injury, as well as creating and funding Hamas in the 1980s to discourage Palestinian solidarity," tweeted the Boston union.
The founders of the National Workers Association, the barista Jaz Brisack (who identifies today as They), became a symbol of social justice in America over the years and shared their tweets. They posted other tweets condemning Israel, such as "There are no two sides to apartheid." After the story was published on Ynet, Starbucks issued a statement clearly distancing the company from the union's posts: "We unequivocally condemn acts of terror, hate, and violence and do not agree with the statements and perspectives expressed by the board. The words and actions of the company's employees belong to them and them alone," the statement said.
But this did not prevent a storm on social media and even a boycott declaration against the coffee giant: "If there was ever a better excuse to stop drinking their bad coffee, it's now!" Naama called out in a city WhatsApp group, and the next day flyers were distributed in branches with a ban on the Starbucks logo and the headline that its employees are celebrating the Hamas attack on Jews.
The voices even reached the doorstep of the Republican Senator from Florida, Rick Scott, who launched an official statement against Starbucks. "This is sickening. Every American needs to condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists supported by Iran in Israel. I call on everyone—boycott Starbucks until its management takes action against this terrible support of terrorism."
But as the conflict in the region continues, so will the debate around it, and the wars around the world will intensify the discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, or as one of the customers who quickly reserved a spot in The Salon in New York this week put it, "We are in a battle for our home, and every home has a plate."