Caffe Aronne is a popular coffee shop in Manhattan, New York, that is owned by Aaron Dahan, a Jewish entrepreneur who immigrated from Israel in 1998. The cafe has been in the spotlight recently after several of its pro-Palestinian baristas quit in protest of the ownerâs support for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. However, the cafe has also received an overwhelming amount of support from the local Jewish community, who have volunteered to help run the business and expressed their solidarity on social media.
Who Owns Caffe Aronne?
Caffe Aronne was founded in 2012 by Aaron Dahan, a Jewish immigrant from Israel who came to the United States in 1998. Dahan, who has a background in engineering and finance, decided to open a coffee shop after he noticed a lack of quality and affordable coffee in his neighborhood. He named the cafe after his grandfather, Aronne, who was a Holocaust survivor and a coffee lover.
Dahanâs cafe quickly became a success, attracting customers from all walks of life with its cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious coffee. The cafe also became a hub for the local Jewish community, hosting events such as Shabbat dinners, Hanukkah parties, and Israeli film screenings.
Reactions to the Conflict in Gaza
In May 2021, a violent conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. The conflict, which lasted for 11 days, resulted in more than 250 deaths, mostly Palestinians, and thousands of injuries, as well as widespread destruction and displacement.
The conflict sparked a global debate and polarized opinions, with some people expressing their support for Israelâs right to defend itself, and others condemning Israelâs actions as disproportionate and oppressive. The conflict also triggered a wave of anti-Semitic incidents around the world, including in the United States, where Jewish people and institutions were targeted by verbal and physical attacks.
Dahan, who has family and friends in Israel, was vocal about his support for Israel on his personal and business social media accounts. He posted messages such as âI stand with Israelâ and âPraying for peace in the Holy Landâ along with images of the Israeli flag and the Star of David.
His posts, however, did not sit well with some of his employees, who identified as pro-Palestinian and supported the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to pressure Israel to end its occupation and human rights violations in the Palestinian territories.
According to Dahan, several of his baristas quit their jobs without notice, leaving him short-staffed and unable to operate the cafe normally. Some of them also left him angry messages, accusing him of being a âZionist oppressorâ and a âmurderer of childrenâ.
Community Rallies in Support of Cafe Owner
Despite the challenges and backlash that Dahan faced, he also received an outpouring of support from the local Jewish community and beyond. Many of his loyal customers and friends offered to volunteer at the cafe, helping him with tasks such as taking orders, making coffee, and cleaning tables. Some of them even brought homemade baked goods and snacks to share with the customers and staff.
Dahan also received hundreds of messages of encouragement and gratitude on his social media accounts, thanking him for his courage and resilience. Many people praised him for his positive impact on the community and his contribution to the Jewish culture and identity in New York. Some of them also shared photos and videos of themselves visiting the cafe, wearing Israeli-themed clothing and accessories, and holding signs that read âWe love Caffe Aronneâ and âJews for Caffe Aronneâ.
Dahan said that he was overwhelmed and touched by the show of solidarity and kindness that he received from the community. He said that he was proud to be a Jewish American and a supporter of Israel, and that he would not let the hate and intolerance stop him from running his cafe and living his dream.
Conclusion
Caffe Aronne is a coffee shop in Manhattan that is owned by Aaron Dahan, a Jewish immigrant from Israel. The cafe has been in the news recently after several of its pro-Palestinian baristas quit in protest of the ownerâs support for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. However, the cafe has also received a lot of support from the local Jewish community, who have volunteered to help run the business and expressed their solidarity on social media. The cafeâs story is an example of how the conflict in the Middle East can affect the lives and relationships of people in the United States, and how the community can come together to overcome the challenges and differences.
