Feds sue Oakland cafe that allegedly booted Jewish customers

The San Francisco Standard ^ | June 9, 2025 | Tomoki Chien

[Twotone]

The U.S. Justice Department is suing the owner of Oakland’s Jerusalem Coffee House over two incidents in which he allegedly booted Jewish customers who wore baseball caps featuring the Star of David.

Footage from an Oct. 26 confrontation shows owner Abdulrahim Harara, who is of Palestinian heritage, telling customer Jonathan Hirsch to “get out of my business” after spotting what he called Hirsch’s “violent hat.”

“You can’t refuse service for a protected class,” Hirsch says in the heated confrontation.

“Yes I can,” Harara says. “Are you a Zionist? Leave!”

Harara did not comment for this story, but Hirsch’s attorney, Omer Wiczyk, said he was “pleased to learn about the Civil Rights Division’s decision to file suit against the coffee shop and its owner.”

[fruser1]

It’s too bad the Feds don’t enforce that “shall not be infringed” part of the 2nd Amendment as well.

[Abathar]

As a business owner I see both sides of this.

I want the right to not serve anyone who walks through my door, doesn’t mean that I would, I just want the right to do it if I felt it was the best decision for that situation.

In this case unfortunately it will probably boost his sales through the roof knowing that area.

[Fido969]

“Jerusalem Coffee House” kicked out Jewish customers?

[AppyPappy]

Palis try to use the Jerusalem name to claim it belongs to them.

[Leaning Right]

> “Jerusalem Coffee House” kicked out Jewish customers? <

That struck me as odd at first, too. Then I remembered that whole “from the river to the sea” thing. Muslims claim it all, want it all.

[mac_truck]

This seems like a waste of Federal resources and opens the door to endless litigation.

[thegagline]

You can’t refuse service for a protected class,”

A protected class? How very chosen one of him. Who talks like this?

[ridesthemiles]

ON THE HEELS OF IN & OUT BURGERS COMPLETELY CLOSING DOWN-—AREA WAS TOO UNSAFE FOR EMPLOYEES

[marktwain]

Muslims claim Jesus was a Muslim.

They claim Moses was a Muslim.

They claim Abraham was a Muslim.

They are delusional. Allah is the “best’ deceiver.

[Leaning Right]

> A protected class? <

Yes. Legally, that is the correct term. So the man was spot on by using it.

Religious orientation is a protected class. As is, for example, veteran status. So an apartment building cannot post a sign saying “We do not rent to US army veterans.”

Well, I guess they could post it. But then they would get sued, and rightly so.

[thegagline]

Regarding Hirsch, who often brings hs young children along for his confrontations:

“In at least three other incidents dating back to last November, he [Hirsch] has engaged in loud public arguments with strangers, with issues at dispute including Israel and Palestine, local politics and his own driving. Some of these incidents were recorded by the other party, some by Hirsch himself. In several, they took place in front of one or more of his young children. At least one other encounter besides the café incident resulted in a call to police. “

Here’s another incident involving Hirsch

On Oct. 20, Hirsch’s birthday, he took his three children to the weekly farmer’s market in Oakland’s Montclair neighborhood, close to where he lives. There, wearing his trademark Hebrew Orphan Asylum cap, he got into a shouting match with supporters of Pamela Price, Oakland’s district attorney, who is facing a recall election.

Hirsch said the incident started when a man screamed about the upcoming election being “undemocratic,” and Hirsch, thinking the man was a Donald Trump supporter, challenged him.

“And I kind of laughed and turned to be like, ‘You wanna walk me through that? How is this election undemocratic?’ And he and I were having this conversation about it.”

At that point, he said, a woman interjected, telling listeners to ignore Hirsch and saying, in Hirsch’s telling, “‘Don’t bother talking to him, don’t bother talking to him at all, he’s a racist and all he cares about is what the millionaire interests are.'”

Hirsch said he accused the woman of using antisemitic language, which she denied, saying she herself had “Jewish heritage.”

Here’s a picture of Hirsch and his hat

[FlingWingFlyer]

Anti-Semitism has become “wildly popular” since the muzzie terrorist took over America’s prostitutions of “higher” learning and illegal alien invaders took over California when Gruesome Newsom headed for the tall grass.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Supreme court did not think ahead many times on this subject....consequences must be consistent. People feed pelosi, schumer.

[Blurb2350]

Figures. My first thought was that Hirsch was some sort of provocateur and knowingly confronted the shopowner whom he knew to be Palestinian.

[No name given]

That’s because allah is actually satan in disguise.

[PIF]

Must have been a busy day for Blondi.

[thegagline]

My comment was focused on Hirsch saying that he is a member of a protected class, which he is. The comment was very Monty Python like: “Help! Help! I’m being repressed!”

[Lisbon1940]

The same city but not the same area.

[VanShuyten]

Seems like a good enough reason to revoke green cards/naturalization certificates.