Israeli Group Warns of New Missionary Tactic Using Coffee Shops to Convert Jews

Yad L'Achim, an Israeli organization combating missionary activity for over 50 years, has uncovered a new and concerning strategy by the missionary group "Jews for Jesus." This group has established a covert network of coffee shops across Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and soon Beersheba, designed to attract Jews who would not enter churches or invite missionaries into their homes. These coffee shops serve as neutral, non-threatening "third spaces" where missionaries can engage in personal conversations and promote conversion efforts.

Internal missionary publications reveal that this approach, called the "third space model," aims to replace traditional street distribution of missionary materials with a more sophisticated method to reach and influence Jews outside their usual social and religious environments. The coffee shops offer significantly lower prices to encourage visits, with profits reinvested into missionary activities rather than business gains.

One notable location is Cafe Basemta in Jerusalem, owned by Joel Ben David, a well-known missionary and former head of missionary training in Israel. Yad L'Achim reports that this method has already led to conversions, including a recent baptism of a woman who frequented one of these coffee shops in Tel Aviv. The organization warns the public against these centers and is preparing legal and educational responses to counter this intensified missionary campaign.

Yad L'Achim stresses that these coffee shops are not mere businesses but strategic venues for spreading missionary messages and luring Jews away from their faith. They vow to continue their efforts to expose and combat this new missionary tactic.