In the months since October 7, an increasing number of food establishments have been vandalized simply for being kosher or supporting Israel.
This past November, a somewhat unique form of anti-Israel sentiment was directed towards the Upper East Side’s Caffé Aronne.
As previously reported by The Jewish Link, after October 7, Aaron Dahan, the owner of Caffé Aronne, placed an Israeli flag at the register next to the American flag that had been there since September 11, posted a sign stating that the café was donating money to Magen David Adom, and displayed posters of those kidnapped by Hamas in the window.
Then, the café’s entire staff quit due to its support of Israel. Volunteers from the community quickly mobilized not only to patronize the beloved café, but also to help run it.
Fast forward six months, and Caffé Aronne has obtained kosher certification from Rabbi Aaron D. Mehlman.
The café did not have a formal hashgacha before obtaining certification from Rabbi Mehlman. Asked by The Jewish Link what prompted him to obtain kosher certification, Dahan stated that “viewing a spike in attacks against Jews and antisemitism” made him want to see the number of restaurants in the kosher arena increase, and to be a leader in making this vision a reality.
Despite the antisemitism it has seen, the Caffé, of course, continues to support Israel and to proudly display Israeli and American flags as well as hostage posters. Unfortunately, however, Caffé Aronne still sees antisemitic attacks in the form of spray-paint, stickers or from “people coming in screaming antisemitic things.”
No such hatred was seen following the June 2 Israel Day on Fifth (formerly known as the Celebrate Israel Parade), when Caffé Aronne had a line out the door. The Jewish Link asked one of the Caffé’s customers to share why it chose to stop by Caffé Aronne and was told “especially after the Israel Day Parade, there is no other place I’d rather grab a drink.”
The varied drinks at Caffé Aronne include its coffees, specialty lattes, and matchas. Its food menu includes different types of toast such as avocado, salmon and honey truffle ricotta.
Kosher food enthusiasts of the Upper East (and West) Side hope that Caffé Aronne continues to have a line out the door.
Caffé Aronne is located on the Upper East Side at 976A Lexington Avenue.
Judith Falk is the creator of the Upper West Side Shtetl Facebook Group. You can follow her on instagram @upperwestsideshtetl. She is a lawyer by day and a former legal reporter.
