Beejhy Barhany
Hate Closed Her Ethiopian-Jewish Cafe, But Beta Israel Owner Won’t Stop Serving Love!
Beejhy Barhany, the pioneer of Ethiopian Israeli cuisine in Harlem, discusses the Black Jewish experience with Jonah Platt and why she’s closing Tsion Cafe to the public.
In this special on-location episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, we travel to the historic Sugar Hill neighborhood of Harlem to visit Tsion Cafe—America’s first and only Ethiopian Israeli restaurant. Proprietor and Executive Chef Beejhy Barhany shares her incredible journey as an ambassador of the Beta Israel community, from her family's treacherous month-long trek from Ethiopia to Sudan to her upbringing in an Israeli kibbutz.
Beejhy opens up about the painful decision to close her dining room to the daily public due to persistent anti-Zionist hate and harassment that accelerated after October 7th. Despite these challenges, she remains a "boss" in the culinary world, using food to nourish her community and educate others on Jewish diversity and Black excellence.
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Follow Beejhy On Instagram - /beejhysgursha
Tsion Cafe Website - https://www.tsioncafe.com/
