Jerusalem Cafe Closing on Saturdays Amid Religious Protests

A Jerusalem cafe, "Cafe Basmeta," announced on Thursday it will cease operations on Saturdays starting this week, following two months of escalating tensions and protests. The cafe, operated by the organization "Jews for Jesus," had opened on weekends to serve secular residents of the capital.

However, the protests, which included vandalism and violence, led the management to decide to close on Saturdays to de-escalate the situation. A 15-year-old minor was arrested on suspicion of throwing feces at the cafe. Eli Birnbaum, CEO of Jews for Jesus, described the decision as "difficult and painful," stemming from a deep responsibility to customers, their faith, and Israeli society. He stated the cafe had become a focal point of friction and danger, contrary to their beliefs in love, respect, and bringing people together.

Birnbaum thanked the police and the Jerusalem municipality for their support, expressing a desire to return the cafe to being a peaceful space for coffee, culture, and dialogue. He explained the initial decision to open on Saturdays was motivated by a desire to serve secular Jerusalemites who felt a lack of such venues and wanted to observe Shabbat in their preferred way, guided by the principle of "love your neighbor as yourself."

However, Birnbaum noted that when they saw the opening was causing distress and perceived offense to the ultra-Orthodox community, they found themselves "between a rock and a hard place," leading to a political and violent struggle they had not intended.