The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table NYC’s Only Ethiopian-Israeli Restaurant Forced to Close Due to Antisemitism
Feb 20, 2026
Beejhy Barhany, Ethiopian‑Israeli restaurateur and author of Gursha, shares her story as the founder of Tsion Cafe in Harlem. She talks about her restaurant’s Ethiopian‑Israeli cuisine. She recounts harassment and threats that forced a shift from dine‑in to events and catering. She discusses migration, identity, cultural traditions, and plans to promote Ethiopian Jewish food through her book and pop‑ups.
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Harassment Over Menu Labels
- Beejhy Barhany describes receiving online one-star reviews demanding she stop serving dishes labeled “Israeli.”
- She found those attacks baffling because the menu celebrated Jewish diaspora foods she grew up with.
Family-Led Journey To Israel
- Beejhy recounts migrating from Ethiopia to Israel at age seven after a multi-year, family-organized journey through Sudan and East Africa.
- She emphasizes her family chose to emigrate out of spiritual longing, not rescue operations.
Jewish Identity Misread As Deficiency
- Beejhy explains Ethiopian Jews faced institutional doubt about their Jewishness in Israel despite strict Torah observance.
- That tension showed how cultural practices can be misread as religious deficiency.
