NEW YORK — Sabrina Naimark, a Jewish Panamanian living in Manhattan, had been a longtime fan of the city’s Israeli-owned Breads Bakery chain when she saw news that employees were rebelling against its ownership.

Some of the company’s workers voted to unionize this week, and among their demands was that Breads halt its “support of genocide,” citing offenses such as partaking in a Jewish food festival.

Naimark’s brother used to work for Breads and she adores its babkah and labneh, she said. When she saw a call in the Jewish community to support the bakery after the employees’ accusations, she headed to the chain’s Upper West Side branch with an Israeli flag on her shoulders.

“Because of October 7th, there’s a family that has been created and every single time we come with our flags to help companies that are being boycotted, to counter protests and celebrate Jewish pride,” Naimark said. “It’s a reminder that we’re always going to be here, stronger together.”

Naimark was one of hundreds in line on Friday afternoon to support Breads as the city’s Jewish community rallied behind the beloved bakery. The line stretched the length of the block on Broadway, with customers wearing stickers that said “Zionist,” chatting, and holding Israeli flags.

The crowd gathered in response to a call from Shai Davidai, a Jewish community activist who came to prominence with his harsh criticism of antisemitism at Columbia University, where he was a professor until he resigned in July.

Davidai circulated his call to gather at the Upper West Side location on Friday afternoon online, saying, “We need to show Jewish businesses that we have their backs.” The initiative was part of a project Davidai is launching called Here I Am, he said.

“It’s just nonviolent, peaceful activism. Everyone here basically came and said,........

© The Times of Israel