The owner of a Palestinian restaurant chain that came under fire for its inflammatory menu header “From the River to the Sea'' is hosting a free Shabbat dinner on Friday to thank Jewish customers for their support and to foster community. ing.
Restaurateur Abdul Elenani, 31, runs Ayat, a popular chain of Palestinian restaurants named after his wife, a 34-year-old lawyer and daughter of Palestinian immigrants.
The restaurant, which features fish dishes from “river to sea” on its menu, sparked controversy in the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.
The Anti-Defamation League calls the phrase anti-Semitic because it implicitly calls for the destruction of the state of Israel and the extermination of the Jewish people.
But Elenani insists there are different interpretations of the phrase.
“This mantra stands for Palestinians having equal rights and freedoms in their own country. It does not endorse any kind of violence. It means peace and freedom,” he said with a side dish. told.
The description has been added to the new menu at his newest location in Brooklyn's Ditmas Park, where the free dinner will be held. It will soon appear on the menus of other Ayat outposts.
Elenani's controversial messages made him the subject of death threats, and almost as bad, the popular chain was hit with bad reviews. But he remained steadfast in his desire to control the narrative.
“You can't come to me and translate my poetry,” he said. “Ask me and I'll give you my translation. I'm not going to change it just because you want to change the meaning to spice up the story.”
Perhaps surprisingly, he said, he has strong support from Jewish customers.
Shabbat dinner is his way of showing gratitude, but details are still being worked out, including hiring a kosher caterer.
“I've always wanted to sabbath day The concept of the dinner is to create something that brings Jews and Muslims together under one roof, and what better way than through food,” Elenani said.
The Middle East conflict “should not affect the people here in New York. It makes no sense. It should bring us more together, not tear us apart.”
Elenani, who grew up in Brooklyn, launched her first restaurant, Ayat, in 2020 during the pandemic. They are currently located in the East Village, Ditmas Park, Bay Ridge, Industry City, Staten Island, and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Elenani and his wife Ayat Masoud posted on social media: sabbath day Dinner at Ayat Restaurant. It's more than just breaking bread. It's about breaking down barriers, fostering dialogue, and connecting on a human level…creating a space where we can come together across our differences, where conversations can flow freely and bonds can be forged. Together, let us weave a tapestry of understanding and compassion that strengthens our beloved communities. ”
Elenani, who was born in New York to Egyptian immigrants, says the dinner is also a step toward his ultimate vision for a restaurant where Jews and Arabs can dine together.
“The big concept I want to develop is a huge warehouse with a kosher kitchen on one side, a halal kitchen on the other side, and a communal table in the middle,” Elenani said. “Then we all sat around the communal table and talked about life and the normal human things people talk about with each other.”
The concept is “needed right now,” he says. “Everyone is at odds with each other, and no one is thinking about uniting people. Enough of the negativity! We want to bring opposites together, but they aren't even opposites. We have a lot in common. It would be foolish to live apart because of politics.”
Elenani also works as a building contractor and owns a farm in central New Jersey. But his passion is the restaurant business. Before the pandemic, Elenani started Cocoa Grinder, a chain of coffee shops in Brooklyn, where he roasted his own beans.
Elenani and Masoud are also new parents. The two have a 2-month-old daughter.
“She changed everything,” Elenani said. “I'm softer and less tough. I live for others and take care of myself so I can take care of her.”
Elenani says that having children “makes you question life and make you question yourself even more. When I saw her, the first thing I said to myself was, 'I'm a good person. What will she judge me? How will the world judge me? ”
