By Melanie Nathan, October 22, 2024
I will never set foot in Hymie’s Deli, again. This is not about the fact that Hymie’s and its ownership seem to be supporting Donald Trump. If they do, I don’t care – that is their right. It is about exclusion and divisiveness. It seems that the ownership of Hymie’s is comfortable in not only accepting and endorsing all that Trump represents, but also is participating in the division, exclusion, exploitation and potential antisemitic nature of the ad.
Hymie’s is a predominantly Jewish delicatessen, in Lower Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, located in a critical voting block in the current Nov 05 election between Republican MAGA contender Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris.
This pro-Trump advertisement exemplifies exploitation of our Jewish vulnerabilities and in particular of Jewish women, and to add insult to injury, with falsehood.
Now while I cannot speak for everyone in our Jewish Women for Kamala Harris group of over 31,000 Jewish women, I can say many local and non local women expressed outrage at the ad and have noted similar feelings. What they have yet to see, and will see as soon as I publish this, will be the owners arrogant and insensitive response:
” “All publicity is good publicity,” Hymie’s owner Louis Barson tells Philly Mag regarding the controversial political ad filmed inside his restaurant. “We are always busy. I don’t think I’ll be selling less corned beef because of this.”
I heard Barson now suggested Kamala Harris also come and film an add in his Deli. Sorry Mr. Barson the harm is done and that ship sailed. And she is not exploitative.
Hundreds of my fellow Jewish women are expressing similar outrage to mine on our private 31,000 strong JEWISH WOMEN FOR KAMALA HARRIS, Facebook Group.
This is what I wrote on our Lower Merion Community Network Facebook group:
“I read the article and it’s not because Hymies’ owner may be a Trump supporter that I will never set foot in that place again. It is because of the divisive nature of trump – and the owner allowing a pro Trump political ad to be filmed in that establishment. Given Trump telling Jews, that if he loses, it will be the Jews fault, and given the use of clearly the exploitative use of Jewish women in the ad – propping up that divisiveness tells me that as a Jewish Kamala Harris supporter, and as the cofounder of Jewish Women for Kamala Harris FBG – that I am no longer welcome there! Excluded! I take my cues well. PS- This is not an invitation to trash me or insult me, or mansplain me – just for my support and views all of which I am entitled to! and let me say how insensitive of the owner in terms of his uncaring response and focus only on money. This really makes it clear to me that I will never go in there again standby for my article on O-blog dee o-blog da.” (Pardon the grammar and spelling via dictation and Siri’s interpretation f my accent.)
I am permanently boycotting Hymie’s. I cannot stand by and not protest their indifference, exploitation and the divisiveness this brings to our community. We once sat in that place enjoing its tradition, the warm vibe and the great lox. That can never be again. It has gone forever for me.
Now if one does not believe the extent to which this deli has climbed onto the bandwagon of horrific divisiveness, here is a typical Facebook exchange from members of our community which a discussion about this seems to have invited – hence you will note my plea in the above comment – for my own community of mostly men to refrain from insulting me for my views and choices
the nice men of Lower Merion .
Here is the HYMIE’S AD in question. As much as I do not want to promote it – it is here for yuou to judge for yourself, especially to note the lie about Kamala Harris not being supportive of Israel. That is an outrage being perpetuated by Trump and Musk et al, and now by Hymie’s!
Philly Mag article can be googled.
MELANIE NATHAN
Commissionermnathan@gmail.com
Co-Founder Jewish Women for Kamala Harris, FB Group
31,000 strong.
O-blog-dee-o-blog-da 
Louis Barson emphasizes that he is a registered independent, yet he has run for local office as a Republican several years ago. I also find it disingenuous at best to suggest that he would host a filming of commercial spot if the DNC would somehow approach him. He is indeed entitled to his personal political opinions, but they should remain personal. My family will be happy to take our business across the street to Murrays.
Subject: A Farewell Toast (But Not with Your Stale Rye)
Dear Mr. Barson,
Well, Louis, you’ve really cooked up quite the disaster—though it seems you left the brains out of the recipe. Allowing a pro-Trump ad to be filmed at Hymie’s? Talk about a knish you couldn’t resist biting into, even though it’s stuffed with something rotten. It’s one thing to serve gefilte fish that tastes like it’s a day past its prime, but this PR stunt? This smells worse than week-old lox left out in the sun.
And please, spare us your “independent” spiel. If you were really on the fence, you’d be sitting quietly, slicing corned beef like a mensch, not setting the table for controversy. But instead, you chose to let a little MAGA commercial simmer in your dining room, as if stirring up a batch of political cholent would somehow make things better. Unfortunately, your own balls aren’t quite as big as the ones made of matzo meal floating in your overpriced chicken soup.
Now, I get it—P.T. Barnum said “All publicity is good publicity.” But the only thing your corned beef stunt has earned you is brisket-thin patience from your loyal customers. And let’s not mince words: I’ll be taking my business over to Eve’s faster than you can say “schmaltz.” My family will never set foot in your deli again, unless we’re in dire need of a cautionary tale about what happens when kugel-brained owners get political.
And sure, Louis, I see you trying to backtrack with your “I’d let Kamala film here, too” shtick. That’s as hollow as the inside of a stale bagel. If you wanted to make everyone feel welcome, you could’ve just served a complimentary latke or two instead of a heaping platter of bad judgment. But no—now you’re stuck pickled in this mess, hoping the backlash will blow over like a tray of burnt rugelach. Spoiler: It won’t.
So enjoy the temporary thrill of MAGA admirers sneaking you a wink while they pick up their pastrami. Meanwhile, the rest of us will be voting with our appetites. I’ll be raising my next glass of Dr. Brown’s not in your honor, but in solidarity with every former Hymie’s fan who’s decided to slice you out of our lives.
I hope you and your corned-beef-stained conscience find comfort in the saying: “Man cannot live on bread alone.” Because pretty soon, Louis, that’s all you’ll have left—if you can even sell that.
Good luck. You’ll need it. And may your kugel always burn
Sincerely,
A Former Patron, Main Line