“The Jesus goal is not completely out, but it’s not front and center,” said the café’s owner and manager.
By United with Israel Staff
A new café in central Jerusalem, in the heart of a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, is owned and run by Jews for Jesus, a missionary group that proselytizes Jews and others, promoting the belief that Jesus is the messiah.
Café Basimta, situated in the Nachlaot district, is also in close proximity to the ultra-Orthodox Meah She’arim and Geulah neighborhoods.
The café, which opened its doors in May, attracted attention by remaining open on Shabbat, resulting in heated protests by haredim opposed to the public desecration of the Sabbath in the holy city. In response, secular Israelis came in droves to support freedom and diversity.
However, the situation became complicated when it was discovered that Café Basimta is a Jews for Jesus venture.
Last month, Yad l’Achim, an anti-missionary organization, exposed the connections and began organizing protests, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
“The missionary-messianic influence operates all the more forcefully by winning over hearts through food and drink,” the placards say in Hebrew.
According to Yad l’Achim, this is a new scheme aimed at spreading missionary messages within centers that resemble ordinary coffee shops, JDN, a Hebrew-language haredi outlet, reported.
Reports indicate that these activities are currently taking place in key locations in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, with the organization warning that the missionaries plan to expand the network soon and open an additional branch in the city of Be’er Sheva, JDN added.
Nothing about the café’s appearance indicates that it is operated by Jews for Jesus.
Binyamin Vulcan, Yad l’Achim’s head of counter-missionary activities, told JTA that his organization is urging the municipality to close down the café.
“The Jesus goal is not completely out, but it’s not front and center,” said Yoel Ben David, a top official of Jews for Jesus in Jerusalem who is also the café’s owner and manager.
He told JTA that the missionary organization owns not only the café but also the building, which it bought to prevent any pressure campaign on the landlord to force the café to close.
In a video posted by Jews for Jesus, Ben David said that the protests against the cafe’ resulted in a surge of customers wanting to support it because it was open on Shabbat. However, most customers were unaware that it was also run by missionaries.
“Ultra-Orthodox extremists began protesting because we opened our ministry center on Shabbat, and the story has spread across Israel. Now, instead of people staying away, they’ve been lining up and pouring through the doors, and this has created countless new opportunities to share the hope of Yeshua [Jesus] with Israelis,” Ben David enthused in the video.
Comments on the cafe’s Facebook page included, among others:
“Mazel tov from Seattle, USA! I pray this beautiful space will be filled with the joy found in the truth about Yeshua Hamashiach.”
“Yes, Shalom Yoel Ben David . May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you as your Coffee Shop “Basimta” and the team from Jews for Jesus continues to be light to the Jews up in Jerusalem. I stand with Israel to the very end”
‘This Should Concern the Average Christian’
“In my opinion, this should concern the average Christian. Deliberately provoking the local Jewish community does nothing to build bridges, foster friendship or strengthen support between Christians and Jews,” said Shannon Nuszen, founder of Beyneynu, a non-profit organization that monitors missionary activity in Israel and abroad.
“This café is operated by one of the world’s largest and best-funded missionary organizations focused specifically on persuading Jews to convert to Christianity,” Nuszen told United with Israel. “For decades, Jewish organizations have accused it of using deceptive tactics and blurring the distinction between Judaism and Christianity to reach vulnerable Jews. Against that backdrop, portraying themselves solely as victims while knowingly establishing such an operation in the heart of a religious Jewish community raises legitimate questions about whether the resulting controversy was anticipated—or even welcomed—as part of a broader strategy.”
“Basimta is not simply a café but part of the outreach of Jews for Jesus, an evangelical missionary organization that seeks to persuade Jews to embrace Christianity while presenting its message in a distinctly Jewish form,” said Rabbi Tovia Singer, the founder and director of Outreach Judaism, a Jewish counter-missionary organization.
“Its location—in the heart of Jerusalem’s predominantly Jewish Nachlaot neighborhood, just steps from Machane Yehuda Market—illustrates a strategy of engaging Jews where Jewish communal life is most vibrant.
“I believe Jewish communities in Israel and around the world should be aware of this approach and understand how missionary groups can use strong expressions of support for Israel and Jewish symbolism to build credibility with Jewish audiences,” he continued.
“At the same time, I unequivocally reject intimidation, harassment or violence,” Singer said, referring to the protests.
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