JCRC-NY Condemns Alleged Harassment of Harlem Restaurant Owner, Calls for Investigation
The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) has expressed concern over reports that Tsion Cafe, a kosher Ethiopian-Israeli restaurant in Harlem, is scaling back its regular dine-in hours following backlash linked to the ongoing Israel-related tensions.
In a statement, JCRC-NY CEO Mark Treyger said the situation highlights growing concerns about antisemitism and the pressures faced by small business owners over their identity. The restaurant is owned by Beejhy Barhany, an Ethiopian-Israeli entrepreneur.
“No small business owner should ever have to fear closing their doors because of their identity. What Beejhy Barhany, owner of Tsion Cafe in Harlem, has experienced is a stark reminder of the climate of antisemitism we are living in today,” Treyger said.
He described Tsion Cafe as one of the few kosher restaurants in Harlem and a longstanding cultural hub where community members gather over Ethiopian cuisine. According to him, instead of being supported, the owner has faced harassment and campaigns discouraging patrons from visiting because she is Israeli and Jewish.
“Harassing a Jewish small business owner because she is Israeli and Jewish — and attempting to hold her personally responsible for Israel’s actions — is antisemitism, plain and simple. No one should be intimidated into changing how they operate their business because of hate,” he added.
Treyger noted that JCRC-NY had previously hosted an “Israel in New York” event at the restaurant, attended by elected officials and community partners, to celebrate Barhany’s story as an immigrant entrepreneur and community builder.
He said the organisation stands in solidarity with the restaurant owner and has contacted the Mayor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office to request an investigation into alleged harassment.
“We stand in full solidarity with Beejhy as she contends with this backlash, and we look forward to joining her again at Tsion Cafe to show our support,” he said, encouraging residents to patronize the establishment and help ensure small businesses can operate without fear or intimidation.
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