Oakland’s Jerusalem Coffee House closes as DOJ and partners sue over antisemitism accusations
Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland abruptly closed amid three discrimination lawsuits accusing the cafe of antisemitic mistreatment of Jewish customers wearing Star of David hats, with the Department of Justice, the ADL, and the Brandeis Center for Justice pursuing a civil rights case set to go to federal trial on October 26. The owner says the closure is for safety and to reset, while patrons recount incidents of bias; local businesses have raised funds to support the cafe’s legal defense as lawsuits proceed.