Jerusalem Cafe Reopens for Shabbat After Ultra-Orthodox Protests

Dozens of Jerusalem residents gathered at the "Cafe Alley" complex on Saturday to support a pop-up coffee cart operated by the "Awakening" movement. This action followed the cafe's management decision to close on Saturdays due to violent incidents and protests.

"Cafe Alley," managed by "Jews for Jesus," a Messianic Jewish organization, had become a focal point for ultra-Orthodox protests over its Shabbat opening for the past two months. The management stated the decision to cease Saturday operations was made with a heavy heart, aiming to de-escalate tensions and restore peace, as the ongoing friction conflicted with the organization's values.

During Saturday's gathering, municipal inspectors arrived and ordered the coffee cart's removal, which was then complied with. The "Awakening" movement is continuing its crowdfunding campaign to support the coffee cart's operations.

Adir Schwartz, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and chairman of the "Awakening" movement, declared, "Today we proved that violence may have closed the door of Cafe Alley, but it did not succeed in closing Jerusalem." He added that dozens of residents came to show that the liberal public would not disappear or give up its public space, vowing to continue fighting for a free and liberal Jerusalem where individuals can choose how to observe their Shabbat, free from religiously motivated conflicts.

In recent months, dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters demonstrated against the cafe's Shabbat opening, facing counter-protests from secular individuals advocating for freedom from religion. These confrontations led to vandalism at the cafe, including a locked door, which disrupted its opening on one occasion.