The Closure of a Jerusalem Cafe Open on Shabbat Is Another Step Into the Dark

Cafe Basimta’s Saturday closure is a warning: Netanyahu’s years in power have emboldened Haredi autonomy, deepened Jerusalem’s culture war, and fueled ignorance, racism and misogyny

Three months ago, a new cafe opened in downtown Jerusalem: Cafe Basimta (“Cafe in the Alley”). Its owners, the missionary organization Jews for Jesus, decided to also open the cafe on Saturdays, as allowed by law and by the status quo prevailing between the city’s secular and ultra-Orthodox communities. But protests by Haredim began shortly thereafter.