I want to stop valid criticism against Israel and/or some Jews from turning into antisemitism (as it does too often in my opinion). Therefore I want this archived (and thus not paywalled) German article to be read. Wanted to link it via google translated page with pics and all, but as that seem to be paywalled outside of Germany and I hadn't manage to google translate the archived site, I translated its text via deepl.com (see below).
- I will not discuss it. Do with it what you like. Though I would appreciate it, if at least some of you do read it.
Ever thought about how Jews feel in Neukölln? Hebrew word on T-shirt – left-wing café throws couple out
The ‘Falafel Humanity Shirt’ is being used to raise money for the peace initiative ‘Women Wage Peace’ in Israel. But at ‘K-Fetisch’ in Berlin-Neukölln, anti-Semitism is coming to light.
By Alexander Fröhlich
As of today, 6:22 a.m.
They see themselves as progressive, as left-wing. But in Berlin-Neukölln, that doesn't mean much when it comes to Jews, the Middle East conflict, Israel and Gaza. Even at left-wing projects such as the so-called collective café ‘K-Fetisch’, a venue that is supposed to be a ‘safe space’ for queer people and is committed to fighting racism, sexism and discrimination.
This is what happened to Raffaela and Abby, whose real names are not mentioned here for their protection. Both are in their early and mid-30s. She works in the social sector, focusing on interreligious conflicts, and he is an artist – and Jewish. An Israeli who has been living in Germany for several years, making a living from his art.
On Friday, late afternoon, at 5.30 p.m., they were at K-Fetisch. The name of the venue is pronounced ‘Kaffeetisch’ (coffee table). It describes itself as follows: ‘We currently define ourselves as a left-wing trans* and non-binary collective that advocates for people with different life experiences and identities.’
Raffaela's identity clearly does not fit in. ‘I was wearing a T-shirt with the word falafel written on it in Latin, Arabic and Hebrew,’ she says. ‘When I went to order something at the counter, the waitress looked at my T-shirt and asked me if it was Hebrew.’
Raffaela documented the incident at K-Fetisch with this photo.
Employee insults customer because of Hebrew writing
Raffaela replied, as she later reported to the Tagesspiegel newspaper, that the writing on her T-shirt was Hebrew and that the word falafel was written in Arabic next to it. ‘She then refused to serve me,’ says Raffaela. ‘I don't serve you,’ the employee said at the counter. And that she doesn't serve Zionists.
‘She began to loudly insult me, saying that I supported the genocide in Gaza and that Hebrew was the language of the oppressor. And that she would not tolerate people like me in her café.’ That's how Raffaela recounted it two days later. ‘She demanded that I leave the café immediately, so my companion and I left.’
But that wasn't enough. ‘When we were standing outside the café, she took a photo of us from inside,’ says Raffaela. They then went back into the café and asked the waitress to delete the photo. ‘But she demanded my name so she could officially ban me from the premises.’ Raffaela did not give her name.
The situation was deeply hostile and intimidating overall.
Raffaela (name changed) reports on her visit to K-Fetisch.
The staff then aggressively asked them to leave the café. Raffaela says: ‘We said that this was anti-Semitic, as she rejects the Hebrew language per se. And that it was like in the 1930s, that she didn't know us and had no right to judge us.’
But the employee continued to insult them and shouted that they should be ashamed of themselves. Other employees tried to calm the situation down, but were themselves shocked. It became loud, and the café was busy. ‘A guest asked us to finally be quiet,’ says Raffaela.
T-shirt symbolised reconciliation between Palestine and Israel
‘The situation was deeply hostile and intimidating,’ the woman continued. And all because of the Hebrew lettering on her T-shirt. ‘This is clearly anti-Semitic.’
What's more, the ‘Falafel Humanity Shirt’ is part of a charity project to promote peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. It was initiated by Hamburg-based designer Nikolai Dobreff, who was joined by Iranian designer Golnar Kat Rahmani, who lives in Berlin, and Israeli designer Liad Shadmi, who lives in Hamburg.
Falafel are peace.
The designers of the ‘Falafel Humanity Shirt’
"Falafel are cultural heritage, both in Israel and in countries in the Middle East. Falafel brings people together, falafel is peace,‘ say the creators. The lettering is intended to symbolise ’shared humanity and cultural ties between people and advocates unity and compassion‘. It is about ’solidarity with all people in Israel, Iran, Palestine and other crisis areas".
The proceeds from the sale will go to Women Wage Peace. With 50,000 members, the organisation is one of the largest peace initiatives in Israel. It is run by women and advocates for a non-violent and respectful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
K-Fetisch could not be reached by telephone, and a written enquiry remained unanswered. For a long time, the restaurant was considered pro-Israeli. Jews and Israeli leftists were among its regulars. But the mood did not change until the Islamist Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.
[Tweet of] @garstigergerrit: The K-Fetisch in Neukölln, from which guests were kicked out today because of a Hebrew T-shirt, felt the need shortly after 7 October to clarify that it had been wrongly defaced with a Star of David, because it was actually against Israel.. [Screenshot] k fetish
2/2
As a left-wing, collectively run café, we want to express our clear stance against the systematic murder and oppression of the Palestinian people by the Israeli state to our community and our neighbours. We condemn the intensification of anti-Muslim and racist agitation by the British government and the British media as an attempt to cover up their own anti-Semitism.
We also condemn the racist and brutal actions of the police against demonstrators who raise their voices for the freedom of the Palestinian people. We condemn this extreme suppression of freedom of expression and stand with the protesters.
We condemn anti-Semitic violence in all its forms.
Last week, the k-fetisch was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti, which was also used to mark Jewish institutions and supporters during the Nazi era.
We do not tolerate anti-Semitism on our premises, just as we do not accept racism and anti-Muslim hatred.
We are a diverse team with different perspectives.
We are not an anti-German organisation.
[Tweet from] @th_so2 The left-wing café ‘K-fetisch’ on Wildenbruchstraße in #Neukoelln threw out Jewish guests and called them ‘Zionists’ simply because one of them was wearing a T-shirt with Hebrew writing on it.
#Anti-Semitism
#kfetisch [Screenshot:] [… already in English]
In the middle of last week, the café held a ‘Küfa’, a kitchen for everyone to ‘support political prisoners who oppose the regime and the state logic of Israel and Germany’, as stated in an Instagram toast.
‘Our focus on Gaza remains unbroken, and our brothers and sisters from Gaza are proud of our comrades,’ the café wrote. Proceeds and donations were to be used to pay legal fees ‘in cooperation with Rote Hilfe,’ a left-wing ‘protection and solidarity organisation.’
Why does everyone except Jews have a place on your rainbow flag?
Raffaela.
Raffaela is still moved by the incident. On Sunday evening, she writes a statement to K-Fetisch. ‘I always enjoyed being with you, like many others who consider themselves politically left-wing and appreciate a place where discrimination has no place. Unfortunately, you have now shown me your true colours,’ writes Raffaela.
The K fetish fuels polarisation and celebrates hatred, rejecting coexistence and peace, which the T-shirt stands for. ‘Have you ever thought for a minute about how it feels for Jews to walk through the streets of Neukölln right now?’ Raffaela asks in her statement. ‘Why is there room for everyone on your rainbow flag except Jews? Because you are so blinded, you probably can't even imagine that there are quite a few Israelis who condemn the current situation in Gaza.’
She can understand that someone who is personally affected by the war would react emotionally. However, throwing someone out of your shop, a public place, and publicly defaming and discriminating against them because of the Hebrew language is anti-Semitism by definition. Raffaela wants to continue wearing the T-shirt, writing: ‘In my hometown, I will certainly not let you stop me from doing so.’
👍