Oakland Cafe Accused of Anti-Jewish Bias Closes Amid Lawsuit

The Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California, closed its doors last week as its owners prepare for a federal trial scheduled for October 26 in San Francisco. Owners Fathie Abd-Elraheem Kharara and the operating company Native Grounds LLC face legal proceedings initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. These actions stem from incidents in 2024. One video shows Kharara confronting Jonathan Hirsch, who was wearing a Star of David hat, and ordering him to leave, calling it an "aggressive hat." Police were called and removed Hirsch for trespassing. In another instance, Michael Radis alleged he was denied service and subjected to slurs like "the Jew" and "the Zionist" while wearing a hat with a Star of David and the phrase "Am Yisrael Chai."

The Department of Justice filed a civil rights lawsuit in June 2025, citing a pattern of discriminatory behavior. This included menu items introduced around the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, such as "Sweet Sinwar," though Kharara claimed they were meant to celebrate the cafe's anniversary. In a statement, the owners accused the lawsuits of being an effort by Zionist organizations and the federal government to use the courts to suppress free speech.

Omer Witzig, an attorney with the Brandeis Center representing Hirsch, commented on the cafe's closure, stating, "Discrimination comes with a price. No customer should have to deny their Jewish identity just to order a cup of coffee." The federal trial is set for late October, alongside civil lawsuits seeking damages under federal and state civil rights laws.