Jerusalem cafe became symbol of secular defiance, until Israelis learned it's run by Jews for Jesus

Cafe Basimta in Jerusalem found itself at the center of a cultural battle, initially hailed as a symbol of secular defiance against haredi Orthodox protesters demanding its closure on the Jewish Sabbath. The situation escalated when the city's premier soccer team, Hapoel Jerusalem, offered the cafe free advertising on its uniforms to support its right to operate freely. The club stated its intention was to promote Jerusalem as an "open and diverse city, where there is room for everyone."

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Our original intention was simply to support a small business that was being denied its freedom of operation, and we still believe in that principle. However, we also realized that this specific story is more complex than we initially knew.

However, Hapoel Jerusalem reversed its decision after the Jewish Telegraphic Agency inquired about the cafe's ownership, revealing it is an official project of Jews for Jesus. The club spokesperson explained that while they still believe in the principle of supporting businesses' freedom of operation, the specific case was more complex than initially understood.

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I don’t know if it changes my desire to drink their coffee, but it definitely complicates things.

This revelation has added layers of complexity to the conflict for secular Israelis who had rallied behind the cafe. Some, like an American student in Jerusalem, expressed that it "definitely complicates things," while others, including Jerusalem's deputy mayor Adir Schwartz, a prominent defender of the secular sector, stated that the cafe's Christian missionary ties are irrelevant to their defense. Schwartz emphasized that the issue is about belonging in their shared city, despite understanding the haredi community's desire to protect Jewish continuity.

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I understand they hate Jews for Jesus, and I understand what they hate them for. My father was a rabbi abroad, and I get that they feel they are protecting Jewish continuity. But this is about belonging in our shared city.

Yoel Ben David, the cafe's operator and a leading figure for Jews for Jesus in Jerusalem, acknowledged that the increased business from the twin culture wars has been financially beneficial, though he and his staff would prefer a more peaceful environment. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions in Jerusalem between secular and haredi populations over religious observance and the city's public life.

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Even though financially, it’s great, me and the staff, we don’t love it. We’d all love it to just chill out.