Tensions are expected to remain high in Jerusalem this Shabbos as secular activists plan a counter-demonstration outside a café that intends to remain open, while Chareidim are preparing another protest against its Shabbos operations.
The café, “Basmata,” located in the Nachlaot neighborhood, became the focus of protests last week when hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside. According to Israeli media reports, chairs were overturned, windows were pounded, and patrons were spat at during the demonstration.
Ahead of this Shabbos, flyers distributed in Chareidi neighborhoods are calling on the public to march to the café and protest its continued operation on Shabbos.
At the same time, activists from the secular “Hitorerut Jerusalem” movement announced they will remain at the café from opening until closing in an effort to show support for the business and deter further disturbances.
Jerusalem Police said they have been gathering intelligence, holding discussions with all parties, and are preparing for the possibility that the demonstrations could escalate.
Despite the threats, café owner Yoel Ben David said he has no plans to close on Shabbos.
“Many people told me they will come, and I’m grateful for the support,” he said. “I spoke with the police, and they said they are preparing and will be there. I trust them to do their job, but I hope the Chareidim wake up tomorrow morning and decide not to come for their own reasons.”
He added, “I’d like my only concern to be whether I’ll have enough milk for the coffee. We’ll try to calm things down, and I hope people come, drink coffee, and everything stays peaceful.”
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
8 Responses
“everything stays peaceful.” NOT IN THE NEXT WORLD!!
as he said so it shall be.
he will have no milk to put in his coffee until he stops this.
Isnt this the one that was recently found to be a missionary base?
This cafe is luring Jews in to teach and preach about Jesus, but the concern is that it is open on Shabbos??!! Has Yael Eckstein been bribing people to look the other way on that?
זכור ושמור. Those giving it up to make a buck will find the ultimate loss of their neshama
Yoel Ben David is a Jerusalem-born entrepreneur who recently gained significant local attention as the owner and founder of Cafe BaSimta. He identifies deeply as a Jerusalemite. He has expressed publicly that he opened the cafe out of personal frustration regarding the lack of secular, social spaces open during weekends in central Jerusalem. He has praised the overwhelming wave of secular residents who showed up at his cafe to create a peaceful barrier against the demonstrators, turning him and his business into a focal point for the ongoing cultural debate regarding weekend business operations in Jerusalem.
Although individuals like Yoel Ben David manage day-to-day operations at its physical sites (such as Cafe BaSimta), Ariel 23 is entirely funded and owned by the international Messianic Jewish missionary organization Jews for Jesus. The organization holds all the shares of the company. Public corporate registration records show that Ariel 23 is legally registered at the exact same physical address as the primary Jews for Jesus offices located in Tel Aviv.
The “Cafe Ministry” Model: The organization uses Ariel 23 as a business vehicle to secure real estate and open commercial venues, particularly cafes.
The Objective: Rather than operating under an overt religious banner, the company sets up trendy, secular-facing spaces. This approach aims to establish local community touchpoints, create financial sustainability, and provide subtle platforms for outreach.
To mom me and all–you are correct–see here
https://yadlachim.org/missionary-cafes-serve-coffee-and-gospel/
and here: https://jewsforjesus.org/staff/yoel-ben-david
why no one has put 2 and 2 together, can’t think–Looking towards the real Moshiach–this is the time . . .
His grandparents were probably frum.