Café Kassit was a café located in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

from 1935 to 2014, initially on 59 Ben Yehuda Street. After a few years, it moved to 117

Dizengoff Street Dizengoff Street (, ''Rehov Dizengoff'') is a major street in central Tel Aviv, named after Tel Aviv's first mayor, Meir Dizengoff. The street runs from the corner of Ibn Gabirol Street in its southernmost point to the port area of Tel Aviv in i ...

History

The cafe was established in 1935 by Yechezkel Weinstein (Known afterwards as Hezkl Ish Kasit, Hezkl Kassit man). Amongst its renowned customers was the painter Isaac Frenkel Frenel, the architect

Yaakov Rechter Yaakov Rechter (; 14 June 1924 – 26 February 2001) was an Israeli architect and an Israel Prize recipient. Rechter was influenced by the works of Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, known as ''Le Corbusier'', and one of several Israeli architects ...

, the poets

Natan Alterman Nathan Alterman (; August 14, 1910 – March 28, 1970) was an Israeli poet, playwright, journalist, and translator. Though never holding any elected office, Alterman was highly influential in Labor Zionist politics, both before and after the es ...

Avraham Shlonsky Avraham Shlonsky (; ; March 6, 1900 – May 18, 1973) was a Russian-born Israeli poet and editor. He was influential in the development of modern Hebrew and its literature in Israel through his many acclaimed translations of literary classics, ...

, Ori Lishpitz, Shmulk kraus,

Leah Goldberg Leah Goldberg or Lea Goldberg (; May 29, 1911, Königsberg – January 15, 1970, Jerusalem) was a prolific Hebrew-language poet, author, playwright, literary translator, illustrater and painter, and comparative literary researcher. Her wri ...

, Alexander Penn; the actress,

Hanna Rovina Hanna Rovina (‎; 15 September 1888 – 3 February 1980), also Robina, was an Israeli actress. She is often referred to as the "First Lady of Hebrew Theatre". Biography Hana Rovina was born in Byerazino, in the Igumensky Uyezd of the Min ...

; the musicians,

Arik Einstein Arieh Lieb "Arik" Einstein ( ; (3 January 1939 – 26 November 2013) was an Israeli singer, songwriter, actor, comedian and screenwriter. He was a pioneer of Israeli rock music and was named "the voice of Israel." Through both high public and c ...

and

Uri Zohar Uri Zohar ( ; 4 November 1935 – 2 June 2022) was an Israeli film director, actor and comedian who left the entertainment world to become an orthodox rabbi. Biography Uri Zohar was born in Tel Aviv. His parents were History of the Jews, Polis ...

and more. In the 1950s,

Gabriel Moked In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Gabriel ( ) is an archangel with the power to announce God's will to mankind, as the messenger of God. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Quran. Many Chris ...

recounted that there was a special section reserved in the cafe for the "Kassit parliament". The cafe's peak in importance was during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s of the 20th century. In the 1970s and 80s, its influence waned with the emergence of competing cafes such as "

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

" as well as the aging of the founders' of Kassit. In 1970, with the passing of

Nathan Alterman Nathan Alterman (; August 14, 1910 – March 28, 1970) was an Israeli poet, playwright, journalist, and translator. Though never holding any elected office, Alterman was highly influential in Labor Zionist politics, both before and after the es ...

, the coffeehouse closed its doors for two hours during his funeral. In 1979, Hatzkel passed away, and his widow Leah, along with her children Moshe Ish Kasit and Tzvia Litman, continued to run the establishment. After her children passed away, Leah's son-in-law, Zev Litman, joined in the management of the cafe. Zev Litman passed away on December 13, 2007. During these times, Yankale Rotblit wrote the song "How to Make a Record," capturing the essence of the era.

The First and Second Kassit

The First Kassit

"Kassit HaRishon" (The First Kassit) was founded by Leova Goldberg, Hatzkel Ish Kasit, and Ilona Mordechovich in April 1935 at 59 Ben Yehuda Street. The name "Kassit" was given to the place by

Abraham Shlonsky Avraham Shlonsky (; ; March 6, 1900 – May 18, 1973) was a Russian-born Israeli poet and editor. He was influential in the development of modern Hebrew and its literature in Israel through his many acclaimed translations of literary classics, p ...

, named after a type of precious stone (kaseetah), which, according to Yalkut Shimoni, hints at Isaiah 41:1, "O you islands, listen to me, and pay attention, distant peoples." The place quickly became the stronghold of the literary group "Yahdav," which held discussions on cultural matters and held small theater shows. Artists such as

Yitzhak Frenkel Yitzhak Frenkel (; 1899–1981), also known as Isaac Frenkel or Alexandre Frenel, was an Israeli painter, sculptor and teacher. He was one of the leading Jewish artists of the School of Paris, l’École de Paris and its chief practitioner in Is ...

Moshe Castel Moshe Castel (; 1909 – December 12, 1991) was an Israelis, Israeli painter. Biography Moshe Elazar Castel born in Jerusalem, History of Palestine#Ottoman period, Ottoman Palestine, in 1909, to Rabbi Yehuda Castel and his wife Rachel. The ...

, and Arieh Navon also joined the group. The partnership among the founders of "Kassit" dissolved in 1937. Leova Goldberg opened a new cafe called " Ararat - אררט in Hebrew" at 9 Ben Yehuda Street. The name "Ararat" was also bestowed by Shlonsky, signifying a place where they could be together, akin to Noah's Ark. The humorists of the time interpreted the name as an acronym for "Ani Rotse Rak Teh" (I Only Want Tea), reflecting the economic situation of the members of " Yahdav".

The Second Kassit

The name "Kasit" ceased to be used for a coffeehouse until Hatzkel Ish Kasit adopted it again and opened the well-known coffeehouse at 117

in 1944.

1990s - Today

1990s

At the end of the 1990s, a severe and prolonged conflict emerged between the owner of Kassit and the bohemian community from its early years. The conflict revolved around the prolonged and non-profitable (according to the owner's perspective) use of tables placed on Dizengoff Street. The owner accused them of deterring a younger crowd and insisting on continuing the traditions of purchasing as though it were a grocery store and other complaints. On the other hand, representatives of the older generation argued that the place is a cultural and urban institution of the highest order. They believed their gatherings ought to be supported, even if they were not financially lucrative. From 1996 to 2001, a legal battle over the coffeehouse took place between Zev Litman and the owners, who had leased it to Hatzkel under a protected lease. During this period, Leah was no longer involved in the affairs of the café. Leah passed away on February 9, 2011, at the age of 101.

2000s

In the beginning of 2004, the coffeehouse came under new ownership and was transformed. This time, it reopened as a café/dance bar with a modern look called "Coffee Inn." The new owners showed sensitivity to the heritage of the place, designating an internal space as "Kassit Corner" adorned with pictures from the heyday of the bohemians. They also displayed a selected photograph of the coffeehouse's football team taken by Max Salomon. Despite the tribute, it became evident that the older crowd preferred the traditional seating outside the coffeehouse around the tables in front of the cafe. That section returned to its original role as part of the coffeehouse in the spring of 2005. By the end of 2006, the venue changed ownership again and rebranded as "Edelson 10." However, eight years later, it closed down. In the years 2010–2011, the documentary films "All the people of Kassit" and "All the people of Kassit - The Last Generation" were broadcast on Channel 8. Directed by

Meir Suissa Meir () is a Jewish male given name and an occasional surname. It means "one who shines". It is often Germanized as Maier, Mayer, Mayr, Meier, Meyer, Meijer, Italianized as Miagro, or Anglicized as Mayer, Meyer, or Myer. Alfred J. Kolatch, ''The ...

, these films explored the story of the establishment.