A wave of antisemitic incidents has struck Rio de Janeiro during the Jewish holiday of Passover, sparking public outrage and official action. A bar in the Lapa neighborhood displayed a sign stating that citizens of the United States and Israel were not welcome, prompting city authorities and the Consumer Protection Agency to fine the establishment and consider revoking its operating license.

Other businesses expressed support for the bar, including a pub that introduced a drink referencing Tel Aviv and pledged profits to the fined establishment. The bar defended its actions as a political statement criticizing government policies, claiming it was not intended as discrimination and rejecting accusations of xenophobia or antisemitism.

In a separate incident, a Jewish Brazilian chef alleged that a deli in Leblon refused to sell her traditional Passover bread, with the owner reportedly saying he was tired of Jews. The deli denied discriminatory intent and apologized if any remarks were misinterpreted.

Jewish advocacy leaders said the incidents highlight an urgent need for Brazil to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into law, arguing that clearer legal standards are necessary to combat growing hostility toward Jewish people in the country.