UJA and Met Council distribute 4,000 bags of Bamba after anti-Israel boycott vote

Bamba, one of Israel’s best-known snack foods, was among the items removed from the cooperative’s shelves.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Jewish organizations distributed 4,000 bags of the Israeli snack Bamba during the Celebrate Israel Day Parade in Manhattan, describing the effort as a response to growing anti-Israel boycott campaigns and a recent decision by a Brooklyn food cooperative to stop carrying Israeli products.

Volunteers from UJA-Federation of New York handed out the bags along Fifth Avenue during the annual parade.

The initiative was carried out in partnership with Met Council, which plans to distribute additional bags of Bamba through its food assistance network.

The distribution followed a vote last week by Park Slope Food Coop, a members-only grocery store in Brooklyn, to boycott Israeli products.

Bamba, one of Israel’s best-known snack foods, was among the items removed from the cooperative’s shelves.

According to organizers, approximately 4,000 bags were provided for the effort. Parade attendees received the snacks during the event, while remaining supplies were earmarked for food assistance programs operated by Met Council.

The organization said the remaining Bamba would be distributed by next week to hundreds of food pantries that receive its deliveries, including the 14 food pantries it owns and operates directly.

The snack will be offered as an additional free item alongside the regular food packages distributed to pantry clients. Met Council also plans to provide some of the bags directly to Holocaust survivors within its support network.

The distribution took place as newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani became the first mayor in 62 years not to attend the Celebrate Israel Day Parade.

Addressing his decision, Mamdani said: “I said on the campaign trail that I wouldn’t be attending the parade, and I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear.”

Mamdani stated during his campaign that he does not support the existence of Israel as a Jewish state and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

Organizers said the Bamba distribution was intended to demonstrate support for Israeli products and to provide a visible response to boycott efforts targeting Israeli goods.