For three consecutive days of the Jewish New Year, Jerusalem seemed to fall asleep. Streets emptied, shops closed, and the city’s atmosphere became one of religious stillness. Yet in the middle of this silence, one spot remained alive: Déjà Bu, a bar-restaurant in the heart of Independence Park, kept its doors open. On the holiday evening, it became a haven for single parents with children, tourists unsure where to go, and singles and widows seeking warmth and company.
Independence Park – a rare space of freedom
The choice of location matters. Independence Park, long a meeting point for Jerusalem’s younger crowd, has often been seen as a space of openness in a city that increasingly closes itself on Saturdays and holidays. On the Jewish New Year evening, while nearby restaurants pulled down their shutters, life flowed into Déjà Bu. Music, the clinking of glasses, and the sight of shared tables created a momentary sense that Jerusalem could breathe differently – even when everything else was closed.
Déjà Bu – a restaurant open on the Jewish New Year
More than food was served. Déjà Bu became an informal public service. Single parents, foreign tourists, widows and singles all found a place to sit. The staff offered not only meals but also continuity: a smile, a brief conversation, and a glass of wine that brought strangers together.
(French consulate in mid-Jerusalem: street marked Palestine)
The Station compound versus Déjà Bu
The contrast with Jerusalem’s Station compound could not be sharper. Once intended as a secular hub with culture and nightlife, the compound now lies quiet on holidays, its promise unfulfilled. By contrast, a smaller private initiative like Déjà Bu manages to remain open and relevant, proving that private spaces can succeed where public projects falter.
Secular nightlife in Jerusalem
The meaning of one restaurant’s decision to stay open goes far beyond convenience. It touches the identity of Jerusalem itself: a city that could either close its gates to everything but tradition, or allow space for diverse lives. In Independence Park, a historic public space, Déjà Bu has offered a glimpse of another model – nightlife that is neither confrontational nor hidden, but present and real. It shows that even in 2025, Jerusalem still has room for normal life alongside sanctity.
