New York City's only Ethiopian-Israeli dining establishment, Tsion Café, has officially closed to walk-in customers, with owner Beejhy Barhany citing an increase in antisemitic harassment as the motivating factor behind the decision. According to a report from ABC7NY, the Harlem restaurant, which opened in 2014 and reflects Beejhy's Ethiopian and Israeli heritage, received harsh backlash amid tensions following the Israel-Hamas war.
Barhany described receiving threat-laden phone calls, including ones with terrifying promises such as, "we're going to come and shoot you all," an ordeal that understandably spurred the decision to shift the business model away from public access. Despite the turmoil, Barhany expressed an unwavering pride in her identity and a continued desire to engage the community, planning to use Tsion Café as a space for private events and cultural nourishment. As the owner struggling with these decision shared with the outlet, "There is a lot of learning and engagement necessary in this world. And, we'll see what happens."
Further complicating the situation was the cafés pivot to a vegan and kosher menu in early 2024, which, instead of being welcomed, somehow resulted in even more condemnation. Barhany recalled to the New York Post, "I was proud to be Jewish. I wanted to illuminate that. But from the moment we pivoted to be kosher, it became worse and worse." This harassment was not isolated but echoed by on-the-street confrontations where Gen-Z passersby discouraged patronage due to the owner's Israeli origins.
In response to the closures, Mark Treyger of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York has encouraged a more robust investigation into the threats suffered by Barhany and Tsion Café. With the backing of other Jewish organizations, Treyger stated in a statement obtained by ABC7NY, "The fact that she doesn't feel safe in New York City in the year 2026 to keep her business fully open because of pervasive hate and harassment, that is not normal." Thus highlighting a larger issue at play and extending support for those impacted by such discriminatory actions.
Report from the New York Post indicate that the Jewish Community Relations Council filed formal complaints with the offices of state Attorney General Letitia James and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, advocating for civil rights probes into the antisemitism involved in this incident. The AG's office has confirmed the receipt and review of these complaints, although Mayor Mamdani's office did not comment on the matter as of the reporting. This situation emphasizes not only the individual struggle of Tsion Café but also the broader context of rising antisemitism in the city and the need for community and legal action.
