Brooklyn, NY (May 27, 2026)
Members of the Park Slope Food Coop voted Tuesday night to approve a boycott of Israeli products, ending a years-long internal battle that has deeply divided the well-known Brooklyn grocery cooperative.
More than 7,000 members participated in the virtual meeting, a turnout described by longtime members as the largest in the co-op’s 53-year history. The meeting had been moved online after some Jewish members raised safety concerns about attending in person amid months of heated debate and allegations of intimidation.
The boycott passed by a margin of 67 percent to 31 percent, with 2 percent abstaining. The vote followed an earlier procedural decision that lowered the threshold for approving boycotts from a 75 percent supermajority to a simple majority. That change passed with 61 percent support, allowing the later Israel boycott measure to succeed. Had the prior supermajority rule remained in effect, the measure would not have passed.
The dispute centered on whether the co-op should remove a small number of Israeli grocery items as part of a broader boycott campaign targeting Israel. The debate intensified after October 7 and became one of the most contentious issues in the co-op’s history, drawing far more participation than its usual meetings, which often attract only a small fraction of the membership.
Jewish members who opposed the measure said the process was unfair and contributed to an atmosphere in which many felt targeted or unsafe. Some criticized a move to proceed directly to a vote without allowing additional opposing speakers, while others raised concerns about technical problems during the Zoom polling process and suggested the matter could face further challenges.
Supporters of the boycott argued that the co-op has a history of taking political and social stands and said the vote reflected the will of the membership.
The decision marks a major turning point for the Park Slope institution, but it is unlikely to end the controversy. The vote has left many members questioning the future of the co-op’s internal culture and whether the highly charged debate will lead to resignations, legal disputes or lasting divisions.