The Bohemian Cafe

IsraelTel Aviv

Cafe Kassit was a famous coffee house located at 117 Dizengoff Street. Over the years, Kassit became a major cultural landmark and one of the most well-known centers of the Tel Aviv bohemia.

The cafe was opened in 1935 at 59 Ben Yehuda Street by Yehezkel Weinstein, who later became known as Hatzkel Ish Kassit (literally “Kassit man”), and moved to Dizengoff Street in 1944. It was named Kassit by the poet Avraham Shalonsky, after the "Kassita" gem.

In the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's, Kassit was considered the coolest and hottest place in town, where all the who’s and who’s gathered. Among its regular visitors were poets, writers, actors, singers, and many other celebrities.

In 1979 Hatzkel died, and the cafe was managed by his widow Leah and her children Moshe Ish Kassit and Zvia Litman, and later by Leah's son-in-law Zeev Litman. The place continued to operate as Cafe Kassit until 2006, when it changed owners as well as its name.

Kassit was immortalized in the famous song "How to make a record" written by Yankel' Rotblit and composed and performed by Shmulik Kraus.

(Anecdote authored by: עמיר)

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