JCRC-NY and Elected Officials Uplift Tsion Cafe Amid Antisemitic Backlash

HARLEM, NY (02/26/2026) (readMedia)-- In response to recent reporting that Tsion Cafe, a kosher, Ethiopian-Israeli restaurant in Harlem, is ending its regular dine-in hours because of antisemitic backlash, JCRC-NY convened a solidarity lunch with owner Beejhy Barhany and prominent elected officials.

In attendance were New York Attorney General Letitia James, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights Denise Miranda, Senior Vice President of Community Strategy and External Relations at UJA-Federation of New York Hindy Poupko, and CEO and Executive Director of Met Council David Greenfield. The group came out to show support for Barhany as she contends with targeted harassment and intimidation, and to uplift her story as an Ethiopian-Israeli Jewish immigrant, entrepreneur, and community builder whose restaurant has long served as a cultural anchor in Harlem.

JCRC-NY CEO Mark Treyger has spoken out forcefully about the antisemitism Barhany has faced, warning that attacks on Jewish-owned businesses - particularly those connected to Israel - are an alarming and unacceptable form of hate that must be confronted.

In September, JCRC-NY launched its Israel in New York series with a visit to Tsion Cafe to learn more about Barhany's experience and uplift the richness and diversity of Israeli culture.

"What Beejhy has endured reflects the alarming reality facing Jewish New Yorkers today - particularly Jewish and Israeli small business owners," said Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY. "Tsion Cafe is one of the only kosher restaurants in Harlem and a vital gathering place that brings culture, food, and community together. Instead of being supported, it has been unfairly targeted because of its owner's identity in pure acts of antisemitism. No one should be forced to change or scale back the business their livelihood depends on because of hate. We are deeply grateful to Beejhy for hosting us today and to the leaders who stood with her to send a clear message that antisemitism and intimidation have no place in our city."

"I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support from our Harlem community, elected officials, and partners like JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation. As a proud Harlemite and Ethiopian-Israeli Jewish small business owner, Tsion Cafe has always stood as a cultural bridge. While it is heartbreaking to face antisemitism and racism-and to have had to pivot operations due to harassment-I remain committed to Harlem's growth as an inclusive and diverse community. We will continue to support inclusive measures, raise awareness, and foster bridge-building engagements through dining experiences, cultural conversations, and mindful artistic productions that improve relations and strengthen unity in our city," said Beejhy Barhany, Owner of Tsion Cafe.

"For more than a decade, Beejhy Barhany has nourished Sugar Hill and built a welcoming space that brought together people of all backgrounds," said New York Attorney General Letitia James. "We are strongest when we stand together, and Tsion Caf reflects the resilience and diversity that define Harlem. I am proud to stand with Beejhy and with all New Yorkers who reject hate and discrimination. Antisemitism has no home here."

"Tsion Cafe is more than a restaurant - it's a cultural bridge, a gathering place, and a testament to the rich diversity that defines Harlem and our entire borough. No small business owner should be harassed or intimidated because of who they are, their faith, or their connection to Israel. New York City's strength has always been rooted in pluralism and coexistence. We can have passionate debates about policy and still reject hate in all its forms. I stand with Beejhy Barhany, and with all New Yorkers who deserve to live and work free from fear," said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

"No restaurant or business owner should have to shutter because of hate or threats," said Speaker Julie Menin. "Tsion Cafe is part of the vibrant fabric of Harlem, and we are proud to stand in solidarity with the owner and her community. I'm grateful to Mark Treyger and JCRC for helping bring us together to show that intimidation will never define our city. We will continue working to ensure that every New Yorker can operate a business, worship, and live free from fear."

"Tsion Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in New York City, which is why I'm heartbroken to see Beejhay Barhany close her doors to dine-in service over antisemitic attacks. New York has always been a place where we celebrate each other's cultures, experiences, and traditions through their food - with Tsion being a prime example of that. Antisemitism, or any form of hate for that matter, has no place in our city or our dining tables," said New York City Comptroller Mark Levine.

"For over a decade, Beejhy Barhany and Tsion Cafe were an integral part of Harlem's diverse cultural fabric – bringing joy and community through Jewish, Ethiopian and Israeli cuisine and hospitality. When Beejhy and her business were targeted by hate and antisemitism, it struck close to home. Jewish leaders, civic partners, and longtime friends rallied around her - united in the belief that just as her tables brought people together, so too must we gather in support of one another," said Hindy Poupko, Senior Vice President, Community Strategy and External Relations, UJA-Federation of New York.

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About JCRC-NY: JCRC-NY, a proud UJA-Federation of NY agency, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body with a mission to build relationships to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.