Israel’s first ‘pop up cafe’ takes hold

March 28, 2011 - 10:59 AM by David

A poster for the Israel Pop Up Cafe in Tel Aviv

The concept of a pop up café is gaining steam across the globe. Essentially, just that, a temporary space, traditionally on a city sidewalk that ‘pops up’ with folding chairs and tables and takes on the persona of a café enabling people to mingle, discuss and, of course, eat.

Israel’s People Council Pop-Up Café is opening this week in Tel Aviv for nine days (March 28- April 5). According to its co-founder, Inbal Baum, the goal of the café is to create a physical space for meaningful interactions (offline!) and fun community activity.

“I (with my partner) created this event out of a desire to create a physical place for internationals and Israelis to interact in a meaningful way, and I would love if MANY people had the opportunity to be part of this community spirit,” she said.

The events’ sponsor, The People’s Council, is a Tel Aviv based organization developed to catalyze social change by providing local organizations with a vibrant “community center” space to run events and gatherings in order to enhance social responsibility awareness for both individuals and businesses.

The theme for the first Pop-Up Café is Interactions. Each day different aspects of lives that prompt interaction will be explored: our self, the environment, neighbors, diaspora, family/relationships, spirituality, technology and social action.

The cafe – which is located at Café Bograshov – has a full schedule of events taking place daily morning, noon and night at mostly symbolic entrance fees. Among them are morning meditation, lectures on nostalgic Israel with longtime Tel Aviv veterans, tips on making your life more environmentally friendly, and a Kabbalat Shabbat community dinner at a conservative Tel Aviv shul and a diverse Shabbat program for single adults.

If you’re tired to typing online in isolation and want some human interaction, pop up to the Israel’s People Council Pop-Up Café.

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