Israeli Cafe Owner in NYC Faces Backlash, Stands Firm on Patriotism

Aharon Dahan, owner of "Cafe Oron" on New York's Upper East Side, has become a focal point for displaying Israeli and American flags, along with photos of fallen IDF soldiers, outside his establishment. Despite facing employee revolts and harassment, Dahan remains resolute in his decision not to remove the Israeli symbols.

Dahan, whose father immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon, began his coffee business in 2018 at event stands, feeling that New York's coffee scene was lacking. His business grew, leading to collaborations with large companies and eventually the opening of his first cafe in the West Village, which he later sold. He now operates the Upper East Side cafe, opened in December 2022, and recently launched another on the Upper West Side, with plans for a third in Midtown.

Cafe Oron gained notoriety when it provided coffee services for the filming of Steven Spielberg's movie "West Side Story." Dahan recounted his excitement upon realizing the famous director was a client, a sentiment not initially shared by his Lebanese father who asked, "Who is he?"

Following the October 7th Hamas attacks, Dahan actively supported Israel by donating a dollar from each drink to Magen David Adom and displaying photos of hostages on his cafe windows. This initiative faced challenges, including vandalism and employees replacing menus with anti-Israel slogans like "Blood of Palestinian babies," which Dahan controversially described as a learning opportunity about October 7th. The cafe temporarily closed all branches to recruit new staff, finding support from the local Jewish community and even a neighboring cafe owner.

Dahan, whose mother is Israeli and who speaks fluent Hebrew, emphasizes that displaying the flags is not an act of heroism but a reflection of what any cafe in Israel would do. He recently upgraded his insurance to include "terrorism coverage" due to concerns about rising anti-Israel sentiment, citing the New York City mayor's rhetoric about a "global intifada."