An antisemitic incident in Westport has drawn national attention.
In an Instagram post yesterday, a user named jonnydaniels described the scene as he and friends were leaving a restaurant in “a nice suburb of Connecticut” with Israeli flags.
He did not name it, but it was The Blondinit, the Israeli spot on Church Lane.
Speaking in what sounds like a South African accent, he recounts what he calls his first instance of antisemitism in the US.
A man in “a pub” across the street yelled “F— Israel! You’re committing genocide.”
Daniels swore back. Then — after some back and forth between his group and the man — they left.
“Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in today,” he says on Instagram.
The video got over 4,000 likes. Many commenters expressed emotions like sorrow and solidarity.
The Blondinit closed briefly, then reacted on social media — with the image of an Israeli flag, waving in the wind. (Click here to see the video.)
It too received dozens of messages of support.
Including several from people who said they look forward to dining there soon.
Screenshot from The Blondinit’s Instagram.
Daniels posted another video yesterday. He felt guilty that his publicity made the Blondinit’s owners feel they had to close, for safety.
But he was angry too, adding that that’s not how things should be.
He plans to speak with the owners — and to return again, with others, to be together.
And to enjoy The Blondinit’s excellent food. (Click here to see the video.)
Academia, Hollywood, legacy media and our schools are overrun with left wing neo-Marxists preaching the rhetoric of oppressor/oppressed. All the non-white people are oppressed (and by the way, inherently virtuous). Israel is successful and white (in the neo-Marxist mind, at least). Therefore they are oppressors. Go Team!
do an Ai search of the political affiliations of the Jan 6 riot leaders at the capital. By the way if so many were planted FBI and antifa why would Trump want them to receive compensation ?
Sick people in this world, yelling at a jewish person having dinner for your unwarranted thoughts lathered in cuss words is inexcusable. I hope comments here do not turn into a zionism vs semitism discussion. Screaming and swearing at others in town for any religious or political beliefs is a gross behavior and that person should be warmly brought to the border of town and kicked out. Hate used to have no home here!
weaponized cruelty is being taught by our government and social media Many other countries also teach weaponized cruelty. It’s also entering religion. When humankind has destroyed enough we may change Perhaps Ai may help us change.
Unfortunately, the actions of a world leader, does not mean all the people of that country are just like the world leader. We should all understand that from history! Just because Hitler was awful doesn’t mean that all Germans were too. It certainly doesn’t mean that due to Israel’s actions all Israelis or all Jews are at fault for the actions of the country! For example does it mean that because some people who commit crimes are white that all whites are criminals? Blanket hatred is just wrong and those that believe this way are ignorant.
Church Lane is a Town-sanctioned public gathering space. With that privilege comes a shared obligation by both the Town and restaurant operators to ensure the area does not become a platform for intimidation, antisemitic abuse, or other hate-driven misconduct. I would hope the proprietor of the “pub” monitors alcohol consumption and patron behavior, acting swiftly to insure an appropriate and safe environment.
I hope The man must have had too much to drink. Yelling at people leaving a restaurant is so unwarranted and a sign of what state our country is in. Sad.
We can see the hate in people’s hearts. The point I’d like to make is how you can disagree with what Israel is doing and not be antisemitic.
Don’t conflate the two.
I don’t agree with what a lot of what our country is doing, yet, it doesn’t mean I hate Americans. I don’t want people yelling F*** the USA when they don’t like what the current administration is doing.
So there are two things going on. One is that someone is yelling at patrons of a business displaying the flag of the country of Israel about actions taken by the country of Israel. That is totally wrong, just as it would be wrong to scream at Americans when traveling abroad for the actions of the Trump administration. Perhaps the patrons or restaurant abhor Israel’s actions, just like many of us abhor Trump.
But that doesn’t make it anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism is the hatred of Jews for the fact that they are Jewish. Not all Jews are Israeli, and many Jews both in Israel and abroad vehemently oppose Israel’s actions. Conflating the two is a dangerous road that leads Israel to be immune from criticism or scrutiny for its actions.
Well said.
As a proud Jew and proud Westporter, this is heartbreaking and unacceptable to see in our community. No one should face hate or intimidation for being openly Jewish or Israeli. I’ll absolutely be supporting Blondinit and encourage others to do the same. Westport is better than this — and moments like this are when it matters most to show up loudly with support, kindness, and community.
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I find it completely unacceptable to randomly attack another for the troubles of the world.
Emotions run hot when there is palpable human suffering in the world. Ukraine, Cuba, Gaza, Sudan, Iran.
The reasons are complex and blame is not always easy to ascribe. We are all too human. The world feels out of control. Let’s help each other keep it together and understand the fragility of the human condition.