Divisive Tensions Tear Through Beloved Food Co-op

The Park Slope Food Co-op, once a bastion of community and shared values, has become a battleground for heated debates over Israel and Palestine. Allegations of antisemitism, harassment, and a growing divide have cast a dark shadow over the beloved institution, leaving members grappling with the future of their cherished cooperative.

Uncovering the Bitter Feud Tearing Apart a Beloved Brooklyn Institution

A Cooperative Torn Asunder

The Park Slope Food Co-op, a beloved institution in the heart of Brooklyn, has long been a hub of community, shared values, and a commitment to ethical consumerism. However, in the wake of the recent conflict in Gaza, the co-op has become a battleground for a bitter and divisive feud that has torn the community apart. At the center of the controversy is a growing campaign to boycott Israeli products, led by a group of members known as the "Park Slope Food Co-op Members for Palestine." This movement has sparked a fierce backlash from Jewish and pro-Israel members, who have accused the boycott supporters of antisemitism and creating a hostile environment for those with differing views.

Allegations of Harassment and Hate Speech

According to a complaint filed with the state's Human Rights Division, the tensions at the co-op have escalated to the point of harassment and hate speech. Jewish members have reported being subjected to Nazi slogans, being told they "smell of Palestinian blood," and facing other forms of antisemitic abuse from their fellow co-op members.One Jewish member, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, recounted a harrowing incident where she was confronted by a shopper who called her a "Nazi" and shouted "Sieg Heil" at her as she tried to inform people about the boycott effort. The woman said she has been too shaken to return to the co-op since the incident, and that the once-welcoming space is no longer safe for Israelis or Jews.

Divisive Board of Directors Election

The tensions at the co-op have also spilled over into the election for the board of directors, with pro-boycott candidates running on a platform of "ensuring the organization is not supporting an apartheid government and unfolding genocide." Real estate developer Ramon Maislen, who unsuccessfully ran for a board seat on an anti-boycott platform, reported being harassed by an unhinged member outside the co-op, who accused Zionists of lacking empathy.The divisive nature of the election has only served to deepen the rift within the co-op, with members on both sides accusing the other of intolerance and a disregard for the cooperative's founding principles.

A Cooperative in Crisis

The turmoil at the Park Slope Food Co-op has left many members grappling with the future of the institution they hold dear. The once-vibrant community has become a battleground, with allegations of harassment, hate speech, and a growing divide that threatens to tear the cooperative apart.As the co-op's Dispute Resolution Committee investigates the reported incidents, members are left wondering whether the cooperative can heal the wounds and reclaim its spirit of unity and shared purpose. The stakes are high, as the future of this beloved institution hangs in the balance, a cautionary tale of how even the most tightly-knit communities can be torn asunder by the divisive forces of politics and ideology.