In December 2009, with the help of CJAED's Sulam Loan Fund, Dina Lee opened the doors of an atmospheric and intimate Jewish-Arab cultural coffee shop at 34 Yehuda Ayamit Street in Jaffa. The idea of the café is to give the people of Jaffa and those who visit from outside, an opportunity to drink fresh coffee, eat 'homemade' food and at the same time gain an insight into the dynamic Jewish-Arab identity and culture of Jaffa and Israel as a whole. Dina Lee's Café is peppered with books, magazines and publications that she brings from throughout the country and in particular from East Jerusalem that invite people to learn more about the tapestry of cultures in Israel with a particular emphasis on its strong Arab culture. Dina has also begun a program of various cultural activities at the café; her first event which was a karaoke evening of Arab songs took place on January 31st 2009.
Dina Lee's café on Yehuda Ayamit Street is not the first cultural café of its kind that she has opened in Jaffa. In 2004 Dina Lee opened her first 'cultural café' called 'Yafa' in Jaffa together with an Arab business partner. 'Yafa' has now become renowned amongst locals, visitors and tourists, with hundreds of customers visiting the café each day to enjoy the celebrated food that is served and the cultural experience that the café offers. Dina left Café 'Yafa' two years ago when she began exploring the idea of opening a new cultural café in Jaffa. Dina believes that the café environment provides the perfect platform for cultural learning; customers often visit cafes in order to relax, read and enjoy a leisurely drink of coffee. Cafes offer an escape from the strains of everyday life and people have the time to flick through magazines and books that are on display and enjoy cultural performances or events. Dina believes that the more 'cultural cafes' that are established the more exposure people will get to minority cultures and issues. "I wanted to open a place that is small, intimate and down-to-earth. My vision is to open a series of cultural cafes across the country" Dina commented. "I have lived in Jaffa for many years and have lived with both cultures – Jewish and Arab. I think it is very important for both cultures to be exposed to one another" she continued.
Dina Lee was granted a loan from CJAED's Sulam Loan Fund in September 2009 of 48,000 NIS which enabled her to open the café two months later in December 2009. She currently employs 4 members of staff and is building a website for her café. CJAED's Sulam Loan Fund offers urgently required credit for Arab or joint Jewish-Arab small businesses who struggle to obtain loans directly from Israel's corporate banks.
