Hummus Kitchen, New York
(Video: The Ruderman Family Foundations | Production company: WIWU Productions)
Hummus Kitchen, an Israeli-owned restaurant located on the Upper East Side of New York City, has faced a series of physical and online attacks following the events of October 7.
Maor Vanunu, the restaurant's owner, committed to serving hummus and hospitality, recounted several troubling incidents. "Someone threw soup on the manager. Another time, someone pushed her. Then, they came in, screamed 'Free Palestine,' and ran away," Vanunu said.
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Anti-Israeli vandal daubs an Israeli flag with red paint outside the Hummus Kitchen restaurant
(Photo: Screengrab)
Despite these challenges, the restaurant remains resilient. "We’re dealing with it by embracing the situation and moving on. There’s nothing else we can do," he added.
In a show of defiance, Hummus Kitchen continues to display the Israeli flag, replacing it whenever it is defaced. "When they spray painted it, we erased it and put another flag up. That is not going to deter us. I’m here to spread love, not war," Vanunu asserted.
The Jewish-American community has shown significant support for the restaurant. "People bought gift cards, and there was a huge support from the community here. It really warmed my heart," the owner said.
In a moment of levity, the owner invited everyone to enjoy some hummus, reinforcing the restaurant's mission of bringing people together through food.