Anti-Zionism = Antisemitism: NYC’s Only Ethiopian-Israeli Restaurant, Tsion Cafe, Ends Dine-In Service

Anti-Israel activism in New York City is having tangible consequences for Jewish business owners. Tsion Cafe, widely known as the city’s only Ethiopian-Israeli restaurant, has ended its regular dine-in hours following what the owner describes as sustained hostility tied to the war in Gaza and broader anti-Israel backlash.

As reported by the JTA, “New York City’s only Ethiopian-Israeli restaurant has closed its doors for regular dining, citing the backlash it faced during the war in Gaza.” According to the report, owner Beejhy Barhany said the restaurant faced harassment and public hostility connected to its Israeli identity, forcing a reevaluation of how the business could continue operating safely.

Barhany, an Ethiopian-Israeli chef and community leader, opened Tsion Cafe more than a decade ago as both a restaurant and cultural hub. The space became known not only for its Ethiopian dishes and Israeli influences, but also for music nights, cultural programming, and education about Ethiopian Jewish heritage. Over time, it developed a loyal following among locals and visitors seeking something distinct within the kosher and broader Jewish culinary landscape.

However, according to the JTA report, the tone outside the restaurant shifted in recent months. Barhany described instances of passersby shouting at customers and staff, warning others not to enter because the restaurant is Israeli-owned. She characterized the repeated harassment and political targeting as exhausting and destabilizing for a small, independent business.

Pivoting to Events

Rather than close entirely, Tsion Cafe is transitioning away from standard daily dine-in service and will instead operate through pre-planned cultural events and curated programming. This new model allows the business to maintain its mission of sharing Ethiopian Jewish cuisine and history while limiting exposure to unpredictable street-level hostility.

The situation underscores a broader reality facing some Jewish and Israeli-affiliated businesses in major cities. Political activism related to Israel is increasingly spilling into local commerce, with restaurants and retailers becoming targets not for their policies, but for their identity.

For Tsion Cafe, what began as a culinary bridge between Ethiopian and Israeli traditions has now become a case study in how global conflict can impact neighborhood storefronts.