Jerusalem Cafe Owner Admits Ties to Jews for Jesus Amid Sabbath Protests

The recently opened Basmata cafe on Agripas Street in central Jerusalem has sparked controversy after dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters demonstrated against its operation on the Sabbath. A recording obtained by Channel 7 reveals that the company running the cafe, Ariel 23 Ltd., is owned by the missionary organization Jews for Jesus.

In a conversation with representatives from the organization Or LeAchim, cafe owner Yoel Ben David confirmed that while the cafe itself is owned by a private company, the company's shares belong to Jews for Jesus. Ariel 23 shares office space with the organization in Tel Aviv. Ben David emphasized that the protests are due to the cafe being open on the Sabbath, not because of its Messianic Jewish affiliation, and warned that framing the issue as religious could incite violence from extremists.

Or LeAchim responded by accusing Ben David of misleading the public and media, describing him as a senior missionary running the extremist Jews for Jesus branch in Jerusalem. They claim the cafe serves as a covert platform for missionary activity in a traditionally religious neighborhood, exploiting Sabbath sensitivities to gain media sympathy and conceal its true purpose. Or LeAchim urged the Israeli public and press to investigate the facts and not enable aggressive missionary efforts that they say often border on illegal activity.

The dispute highlights tensions in Jerusalem over Sabbath observance and missionary activity, with the Basmata cafe at the center of a broader cultural and religious conflict. The protests and revelations about the cafe's ownership have intensified scrutiny of Messianic groups operating in the city.