Oakland Cafe Accused of Discrimination Closes Amid Lawsuits

The Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California, has temporarily closed its doors, ceasing operations after August 23rd. The owners announced the closure is to focus on three ongoing legal proceedings that accuse them of antisemitic discrimination. The U.S. Department of Justice is leading a federal lawsuit, scheduled for trial on October 26th in San Francisco, alleging a pattern of religious and racial discrimination.

One key incident cited in the lawsuits occurred on October 26, 2024, when Jonathan Hirsch entered the cafe with his son, wearing a blue hat with a white Star of David. According to Hirsch's lawsuit and video evidence, the owner, Abdul-Rahim Al-Harrar, confronted Hirsch, asked if he was a Zionist, pointed to the hat, and demanded he leave, stating it was a "violent hat." The Department of Justice claims Al-Harrar accused Hirsch of supporting "genocide" and later reported them to Oakland police as trespassers.

Another Jewish customer, Michael Radis, claims he was confronted in July 2024 by an employee outside the cafe who accused him of responsibility for children's deaths in Gaza. When Radis returned about a month later, he alleges staff recognized him, shouted that he was "the Jew" and "the Zionist," and told him to leave.

The Department of Justice filed its lawsuit in June 2025, alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A federal court rejected the cafe owners' motion to dismiss the case in September 2025, finding the claims sufficient to proceed. In addition to the federal suit, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is representing Radis in a separate lawsuit, and the Brandeis Center for Human Rights is representing Hirsch in another.

The cafe, which opened in late 2023, had previously courted controversy. Around the one-year anniversary of October 7th, it offered drinks named "Iced in Tea Fada," a pun on "Intifada," and "Sinwar Sweet Juice." The Department of Justice interprets "Sinwar" as a reference to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, while the owners claimed it was a common Palestinian surname and the menu launch coincided with the business's anniversary.

The owners deny the allegations of antisemitism, stating the lawsuits are an attempt by "Zionist organizations and the federal government" to suppress free speech and support for Palestinians. They also claim to have experienced harassment and property damage since the controversy began. The owners have indicated a desire to reopen but have not provided a timeline.