California Cafe Shutters Amid Discrimination Lawsuits and Antisemitic Menu Accusations

The Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California, has permanently closed its doors following a series of legal battles. The business, owned by Fathi Abed Al-Rahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC, faced three lawsuits alleging discrimination and harassment against Jewish customers.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a significant lawsuit, accusing the cafe of violating federal civil rights law by refusing service based on religion and nationality. Court filings detailed incidents where customers were allegedly denied service and subjected to verbal abuse. In one instance, Michael Radis, a Los Angeles charity director, was reportedly told by the owner, "You are the Jew, the Zionist, we don't want you here." Another customer, Jonathan Hirsch, was allegedly ejected with his young son after wearing a Star of David symbol, accompanied by curses and anti-Zionist remarks.

The controversy intensified around the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack when the cafe allegedly featured a provocative menu with drinks named "Sweet Sinwar" and "Iced In Tea Fada." In their official closure statement, the owners denied the allegations, characterizing the lawsuits as a "political persecution campaign" by the federal government and organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Brandeis Center, aimed at suppressing free speech and support for Palestine.

The owners stated the closure is intended to consolidate resources for an upcoming federal trial on October 26th before Judge Susan Ilston. They have also appealed to supporters for donations to a legal defense fund. The article also briefly mentions a separate incident in New York City involving New York City Mayor Eric Adams and a pro-Israel activist, Stephanie Ben Shimol, who confronted him about rising antisemitism.