Israeli Musicians Ejected from Vienna Restaurant for Speaking Hebrew

An incident with clear antisemitic overtones took place in central Vienna over the weekend. Three Israeli musicians were asked to leave an Italian restaurant after one of them was heard speaking Hebrew. According to those involved, the waiter refused to serve them because of the language they were using.

Cellist Erwin Yabor, a dual citizen of Israel and Austria, recounted that he and his colleagues — violinist Hagai Shaham and pianist Julia Gurevich — had entered Pizzeria Ramazzotti before their concert. “We were quietly enjoying a small meal before the performance when the waiter approached and asked what language we were speaking. I replied, ‘English and German.’ He insisted, ‘No, what were you just speaking now?’ I said, ‘Hebrew.’ He looked me straight in the eyes and said, without hesitation: ‘In that case, leave. I won’t serve you,’” Yabor described.

According to him, the reaction from other diners was equally disappointing and, at times, shocking. “Some looked at us with sympathy, some with approval for the waiter — but everyone simply returned to their meals as if nothing had happened. No one stood up, no one said a word. Welcome to Europe, 2025,” he added.

Despite the humiliation, the musicians went on to perform that same evening to a sold-out audience with a work by Dvořák. “It was a brief but meaningful moment of healing amid the dissonance,” said Yabor.

The incident was reported by Israeli media and sparked outrage on social media platforms.