“Those who are sleeping, rouse from your slumber!”

Like many advances throughout history, we have Jews to thank for bringing coffee to Western culture. A Jewish proprietor opened the first European coffeehouse, in Livorno, Italy in 1632, while Jewish merchants introduced coffeehouses to the Netherlands and France. Patrons who studied Torah appreciated the drink’s ability to keep them awake for late-night learning and prayer – as do the modern American members of our congregation.

עורו ישנים משנתכם והקיצו נרדמים מתרדמתכם