An Israeli father simply trying to buy dinner for his family at a Pennsylvania Burger King was confronted by an employee who repeatedly shouted “Free Palestine” after learning where he was from, according to a viral video that has sparked outrage over rising antisemitism in everyday American spaces.
Rami Feinstein was at the Burger King location at 7712 Adrienne Drive in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, when an employee identified as Ariana asked him where he was from. When Feinstein replied that he was from Israel, the worker responded with the pro-Palestinian slogan and continued saying it even as he waited for his order.
In the video shared widely on social media, including by journalist Dahlia Kurtz, Feinstein confronts the employee on camera. “Ariana, what did you say to me?” he asks. She replies, “Free Palestine.” He presses her to repeat it, then steps outside to film himself outside the restaurant and later in his car.
“I was just ordering food for my family and this woman looks at me and she says: ‘Where are you from?’ I said I’m from Israel and then she says ‘Free Palestine,’” Feinstein recounted. He asked for a refund and left the restaurant, visibly upset. “Burger King, are you a safe place for Jews right now?” he asked.
Feinstein was wearing a Star of David necklace during the encounter. Kurtz and other accounts highlighted the incident as an example of Jews and Israelis being singled out in public.
The video quickly spread across X and other platforms, drawing condemnation from groups monitoring antisemitism. StopAntisemitism called the episode “harassment and discrimination” that “must not be tolerated.”
Critics argued that food-service workers should not inject politics into routine customer interactions, especially when it targets a customer based on nationality or religion.
As of Monday morning, neither Burger King corporate nor the franchise operator had issued a public statement addressing the incident or confirming any action involving the employee. Some social media users reported that a manager at the location allegedly claimed they could not control what employees say.
The episode comes amid heightened concerns about hostility toward Jews and Israelis in the United States and abroad. Israeli officials have previously advised travelers to avoid speaking Hebrew or displaying visible signs of Jewish identity in certain locations due to safety risks.
Feinstein’s video ends with a direct question to the fast-food chain about whether its restaurants remain welcoming to Jewish customers. For many watching the footage, the answer remains unclear while the company stays silent.
