In January 2026, Beejhy Barhany was forced to close the doors of Tsion Cafe — the only Israeli-Ethiopian restaurant in New York City.

Tsion wasn’t just a restaurant. It was a bridge. A home. A place where cultures met over injera and hummus, where Ethiopian and Jewish traditions intertwined, and where people gathered in warmth and dignity.

But after months of harassment targeting Beejhy for being a proud Jewish Israeli, the pressure became too much. The doors closed — not because the food wasn’t extraordinary, not because the community wasn’t there — but because hate made it impossible to continue safely.

Now Beejhy is working to transition Tsion into its next chapter.

This is where we come in.

Your support will help her stabilize, rebuild, and create a new phase for Tsion Cafe — one rooted in resilience, community, and the belief that spaces celebrating complex identities deserve to thrive.

If Tsion meant something to you — or if you believe that no one should lose their livelihood because of who they are — please consider donating.

Let’s show Beejhy that she is not alone.