Anti-Muslim Alleged Harasser Of Zohran Mamdani, Beacon Bread Company And Other Arab Businesses Charged With 22 Counts Of Making "Terroristic Threats"

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Days after New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the man who had allegedly been repeatedly threatening Zohran with violent anti-Muslim and anti-Ugandan death threats in June and July 2025, which included calling him names, has been charged with making terroristic threats against Zohran. Jeremy Fistel, age 44 and from Texas, “pleaded not-guilty to a 22-count indictment charging him with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime and other counts,” ABC News reported, the sentence of which is up to 15 years if convicted. Jeremy was released on bail and ordered to appear back in Queens County Criminal Court in November 19th, 2025.

Beacon Bread Company is a Palestinian owned restaurant who was Also harassed by the alleged harasser of NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani, who faces 22 counts of “Terroristic Threats”
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Jeremy also harassed the Palestinian-owned eatery, Beacon Bread Company, located at 193-195 Main Street in Beacon, NY, in 2024, the beginning of the genocide, with repeated phone calls to the restaurant, which the employees fielded. “He looked at business owners with our names and assumed every Arab is a terrorist,” Khitam Jamal Nakhleh told A Little Beacon Blog. Khitam is the sister of Beacon Bread Company’s owner Kamel Jamal, and spoke directly with Jeremy after learning of Jeremy’s harassing phone calls.

“I walked in to Beacon Bread one morning to get my coffee, and the waitress that was working was shook up,” Khitam told ALBB. “I asked her what’s up and she told me some guy has been repeatedly calling over and over, calling them ‘terrorists’ and then asked them if they were Arabs. When they said ‘no’ he asked her: ‘How could you work for a terrorist?’ I then looked at the caller ID and called him back and ripped him a new asshole. I then saved his number and called him every hour on the hour until I believe he either blocked me or changed his number.”

Accused Jeremy Fistel exiting Queens County Criminal Court surrounded by officers after appearing for his 22 counts of “terroristic Threats” made to NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran in June/July 2025. He also is the person identified by Beacon Bread Company as harassing them for being Arab/Muslim in early Genocide 2024.
Photo Credit: Olga Fedorova/AP screenshot from ABC News.

Jeremy’s calls allegedly didn’t stop in Beacon. They allegedly included Yonkers and Yorktown. “He called my nephew Ang his grandfather and harassed them. My nephew reported it to the Yorktown Police and is taking his grandfather to the Yonkers Police.”

When Jeremy allegedly reached NYC for the front-running Mayoral candidate, his terroristic threats made Zohran so uncomfortable, he received approval for a security detail from current Mayor Adams and a flailing Mayoral competitor of Zohran, who said: "There is almost a level of irony to this. Here you have a person who has spent his life bashing the NYPD," Adams told ABC News. "He has a full detail that is moving with him because they were concerned about his life."

According to ABC News, the recorded threats made by Jeremy that are mentioned in the indictment against him include:

June 11, 2025, 11:27 a.m.: Jeremy allegedly left a message on Zohran’s office voicemail that included: "Hey Zohran, you should go back to f------ Uganda before someone shoots you in the f------ head and gets rid of your whole f------ family, too. You piece of s--- Muslims don't belong here."

June 18, 2025, 9:45 a.m., Jeremy allegedly left a message saying: "Go on and start your car. See what happens…yeah, keep an eye on your house and your family. Watch your f------ back every f------ second til you get the f--- out of America.”

July 8, 2025: Jeremy submitted a message through Zohran’s website, that said: "I hope you get terminal cancer and die a painful death very soon. I'd love to see an IDF bullet go through your skull. Would be even better if you had to watch your wife and kids murdered in front you before they end your pathetic miserable life…I hope you all die painful sudden deaths. Do us all a favor and kill yourself."

When asked about Jeremy’s current charges, Beacon Bread Company owner Kamel Jamal told ALBB: “When justice is served, I feel safe at home. When I feel safe, my team feels safe and they trust that I will protect them. We are all thrilled that justice has proven to be more powerful than we trust it to be. Humanity wins.”

The Piggy Bank Is Back. The Business Backstory Behind This Revival

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Photo Credits: Photos of Building on the Left: Meghan Spiro.
Photo of Co-owners Greg Colon and Kamel Jamal: Katie Hellmuth

You’ve been reading about the new Piggy Bank around the webs here, here, and here. There is a depth to this revival. A meaning to its renovated significance from two food veterans on Main Street: Kamel Jamal (Beacon Bread, WTF, Ziatun, The Station Dispensary), and Greg Colon (Draught Industries). An unlikely pair to some, but a star-aligned connection for those who know them.

In the olden days of Beacon (version 14 years ago…which are “new/old” years for those who have lived here longer), there were a handful a restaurants you could choose from. Your choices were the Piggy Bank, Brothers Trattoria across the street for pizza, calamari and chicken parm. Further down Main Street was Sukhothai. Max’s on Main was still Max’s. Xin Xing, the Chinese restaurant next door was open (then closed, then just reopened). Ella’s Bella’s as a brick and mortar didn’t exist yet - it was just Carley delivering her rock-salt topped chocolate chip cookies to coffee shops like Bank Square.

There was a burger joint, a diner (not the Yankee Clipper diner but a straight up counter diner), BJ’s Soul Food, a café serving as a lunch spot, the Copper Roof Deli, Mr. Vs, a few ice cream spots and more pizza options. Draught Industries didn’t exist yet.

And then the tipping point started in Beacon. More people started moving here and tourism was increasing. The Piggy Bank closed and became Dim Sum Go Go and then The Vault. Hudson Valley restaurateur Kamel Jamal transformed the little faceless diner into Beacon Bread Company and WTF with a gorgeous interior (the storefront on the right is Beacon Bread as country-cottage bohemian, and on the left: WTF as plush upscale boho, eventually blending to become one restaurant). He then opened Ziatun, the Palestinian-owned Middle Eastern food haven.

Both eateries are decorated in what has become Kamel’s signature blue chairs and affinity for booths.

Draught Industeries, the bar opened by Greg Colon, who is the co-owner of The Piggy Bank 2.0.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Draught Industries, from Greg Colon, opened in what felt like a mysterious hallway with oak wood floors down by Kennedy’s Fried Chicken. It was narrow, warmly dark, lined with brick, and offered an unusual menu of craft beer with curious descriptions one didn’t see in these parts. Then Draught offered a very limited menu, and it became the first spot for regular Editorial Meetings for A Little Beacon Blog as we developed our collection of the Things To Do In Beacon Guides.

Years later, Greg boasts to ALBB of Draught’s California-style tacos: “Draught has the best Mexican food in your entire life. At least in Beacon.” But don’t tell Dulce Cielo MX he said that…

Former Owner of the Vault, Tony, Says Goodbye

Former owner of the Vault, Tony DiSarro and his wife Fran. After the closing of the sale to Kamel and Greg.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

During ALBB’s interview with Kamel and Greg to learn about their partnership for the Piggy Bank revivial, The Vault’s former owner, Tony DiSarro, and his wife Fran and their dog, walked in. Tony confirmed that they were retiring. “We want that 4 month break. We always got a phone call on a Friday night. No matter how good you keep your infrastructure.” Tony worked full time as a professor at the West Point specializing in constitutional law.

“We have a lot of wonderful memories here,” they told ALBB. Fran lit up at the number of celebrities they met and hosted during film productions at the eatery. “We met lots of celebrities with filming here over the years, and people coming in. Neighbors. That's the apart of it I liked a lot.”

Tony was unimpressed with the celebrities, but Fran continued: “Ben Stiller! He put in those green plants that were around the patio. When they came in to film here, they liked these plants better.” Ben Stiller’s plants in the Piggy Bank 2.0 did not remain.

Beacon Entering Its 2.0 Era

CO-owners of the revived Piggy Bank 2.0: Greg Colon and Kamel Jamal.
Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro

Beacon’s “tipping point” phase is a full tidal wave now. “Old Beacon” is known as “the locals,” and “New Beacon” is in its “New New New Beacon” stage, which is a mixture of new residents and regular day-trippers. Rumors started that The Vault was closing or selling.

“We have always been entrepreneurs with dreams. Business people. Like-minded industrial people; always talking about the next thing. We are constantly talking with each other. This was put in front of us.”
— Kamel Jamal, Co-Owner The Piggy Bank

Over at Draught, Greg’s wheels were turning. The idea of buying The Vault popped on in his mind. Greg and Kamel have known each other for years, working together in the restaurant industry. It had been a while since Kamel had been to Daught, but he and his wife Lena had been out walking one day, like they do between their latest acquisition of the Old Beacon Police Station across the street, which they transformed into The Station Dispensary (in a smoking blaze of irony), and Beacon Bread.

The Piggy Bank 2.0 location with patio. Located across from Kamel’s property, The Station Dispensary, and down the block from Greg’s Draught Bar.
Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro

“I saw Kamel on a Saturday,” Greg told A Little Beacon Blog. Kamel picked up the next sentence: “The stars all aligned. There was no reason to be at Draught that day. I hadn’t been there in one year. As we walked by, Lena (my wife) and I made eye contact. I said to her: ‘Let's go in and say hi.’”

Greg spotted them. They chatted, and then Greg put it out there: “What do you think about The Vault?” The idea spawned. Kamel cocked his head and said: “I'll call you tomorrow.”

Greg and Kamel, standing in front of the custom designed, hand-carved bar of The Piggy Bank 2.0. They are holding a golden pig, which has become their signature and logo.

“We have always been entrepreneurs with dreams,” Kamel told ALBB. “Business people. Like-minded industrial people; always talking about the next thing. We are constantly talking with each other. This was put in front of us.” Tony had approached them 3-4 years prior about buying it, they told ALBB. But the timing back then wasn’t right.

What makes their partnership work? “We have specialties that are far different from one another,” Greg said. “Kamel is by far the most experienced, proven success record. From my eyes. He knows the kitchen.”

For Kamel: “Greg’s OCD is great. He's like looking at Matrix with this guy.” On a successful business partnership, Kamel continued: “Key to a successful project is the players. Playing your role to the best of your ability. Trust and faith in who is on your team. Don't correct them. Encourage them. Be willing to learn at any moment at any time.”

While the Renovation of the Piggy Bank was still under construction, it was entering and winning wing competitions. Pictured here are Adam Sternberg, who is heading up the kitchen, and co-founders Greg Colon and Kamel Jamal.

Greg continued: “There is not jack of all trades, master of none. That's what makes a successful partnership. And the trust factor. Once the trust factor is gone, it doesn't exist anymore.”

It’s hard enough running a business on one’s own. Having a business partner can be a blessing and a challenge at the same time. Customers will usually never see under the hood with the details, but the partnership is vital to the business continuing forward.

Kamel explained: “In this agreement, we honed in on these things. Respect for one another in so many different ways. Respecting each other's feelings. Intuition is vital. I can't go into a work environment and not have that. His feelings are real.”

The public and customers may not know it, but Kamel’s and Greg’s friendship existed for years prior. “We developed years of organic friendship. Nothing binding us. It happened organically. Makes it so much better. We know who we are individually. I know what kind of person Greg is. And he knows me.”

The Renovation

The golden pig of The Piggy Bank 2.0.
Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro

“There’s always nerves. For me, it changes. Nervous at first. Then it turns into pure excitement; into fun things. Picking out the bar counters. Then closer to execution, more excitement. You need nerves.”
— Greg Colon, Co-Owner The Piggy Bank

For this interview we sat out on the back patio of what was then The Vault in November 2024. I looked out at the empty patio chairs, envisioning the overhaul that was about to take place, and asked them: “Do you ever get nervous? Or are you just forward motion, ‘Let's go…I see what it looks like.’”

Greg answered first: “There’s always nerves. For me, it changes. Nervous at first. Then it turns into pure excitement; into fun things. Picking out the bar counters. Then closer to execution, more excitement. You need nerves.”

Kamel answered next: “Every time I do this, the excitement starts. When does it start? When the hammer hits the nail. Then I say what the hell was I thinking.”

Piggy Bank Co-owner Kamel Jamal in front of the new bar that was hand-carved for the space. This photo has been recreated above with the completed bar and Co-owner Greg Colon in the photo.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

“We're creators,” Kamel continued. “The fact that we have this ability to create something. It's never the destination for me. It's the journey. We live day to day happy, sad. The final destination of life is 6 feet under. It’s the journey for me. The process. So many different emotions. It's exciting. Once the doors are open - it’s at another level after the doors are open.”

The Piggy Bank is open now, but at the time, the partners were making one big decision: “We are moving the bar,” Kamel stated. “We are making a bigger bar, that is for certain. We are claiming local Beacon business. We need a locals bar.”

Lena Jamal, wife of Kamel, during the renovation.
Photo Credit: The Piggy Bank

While there are bars with a locals vibe in town, Beacon was once home to 300 bars back in a day. There was a hole after Max’s on Main closed and became the marble covered, historic renovation that is now Lyonshare - as beautiful as it is. The spot was known for TV programing of old movies and sports. The day of that opening, ALBB readers demanded to know: “But is there a TV. Will there be sports.” At the time, ALBB could not get an affirmative confirmation. But now we know: No TVs with sports at Lyonshare.

The Sports TV. One of many inside of the Piggy Bank 2.0. TV programming continues while bands play live music.
Photo Credit: The PIggy Bank Video Screenshot

Over at the Piggy Bank: “YES,” was the single-worded answer when ALBB asked about sports and TV. In fact, now that the bar has been moved from the back of the room to the long side wall for more dancing and bar standing, there are more than one TV with sports. Lots of sports. And live music.

In fact, Kamel told the Chronogram: “We did the design ourselves but put a lot of intention into it, such as using oak furniture to represent the wood we use for smoking, and creating an old-fashioned bar that was made to look like it’s been there for a hundred years. It’s basically a sports bar but bougie; a place that has a welcoming South Carolina elegance, but there are also TVs at the bar.”

Opening Day

The Piggy Bank 2.0 opened last Saturday to a great crowd. It was one of the busiest Saturday’s in Beacon of the spring season, and people were buzzing about who went to the Piggy Bank’s opening. If they didn’t get to go, they said, they knew they were coming in soon.

On the menu, in the Handhelds section alone, there is a strong southern pull. Starting with Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast with Pickles, Malted Buttermilk Mayo, Crisp Greens and Sweet Potato Bun; Tenny Hot Fried Chicken with Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast, Nashville Hot Dust, Kicked Up Slaw, Teller Sauce, Pickles and Sweet Potato Bun; a Veggie Burnt End Grinder with Burnt Walnut & Chickpea Ends, House Sauce, Pulled Mushrooms, Kicked Up Slaw and Seeded Sub Roll; and a Nashville Hot Catfish Po’ Boy.

The kitchen has been separated into Chicken, Pork and Veggie to respect different food choices, as well as the ability to honor religious restrictions. The kitchen is helmed by Adam Sternberg who is no stranger to Beacon and once led the kitchen of a Beacon eatery who replaced The Copper Roof Deli where he was sprouting his own quinoa in the basement. Wappingers also misses Adam, as he closed The Hog, but Wappingers Rises, who used to live in Beacon, arrived promptly to the Piggy Bank, kids in tow.

Currently open every day except Tuesday, keep your eye on the Piggy Bank’s Instagram for menu features and celebrity sightings of locals themselves coming back for more.

The revived Piggy Bank 2.0, with new bar, floor, vibe and menu.
Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro.

The moved bar, to be longer.
Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro

World Keffiyeh Day Celebrated In Beacon By Ziatun & Others :: Turns Into Tragic Day As World Mourns Killed Palestinian-American Journalist

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Palestinian merch for sale at Ziatun.

It’s World Keffiyeh Day, and in the little city town of Beacon, this is being greatly celebrated by the Palestinian restaurant, Ziatun on Main Street. Owner Kamel Jamal’s sister, Khitam (who used to go by Kate and reverted back to her Palestinian name last year after Palestine was particularly annihilated in the escalated conflict with its occupier Israel last May), contacted ALBB to spread the word that the keffiyeh scarf, which started as a farmer’s scarf for protection against the sun but was adopted as a resistance scarf to occupiers, was being celebrated today, May 11th.

You can buy keffiyeh scarves at Ziatun, or order online at Handmade Palestine, who still has a factory in Palestine. Many Palestinian businesses are destroyed or strangled by Israeli forces by way of cutting off water or electricity or limiting shipments, so supporting local business in Palestine matters.

Says Kamel about what the keffiyeh means to him: “Every day the keffiyah means something different. Today the keffiyeh means ‘unapologetically Palestinian’”

The Embassy for the State of Palestine - South Africa, commemorated World Keffiyeh Day with this statement: “Today is World Keffiyeh Day, a global movement to bring awareness and show solidarity with the Palestinian cause and struggle. The commemoration educates the world about the ongoing occupation of Palestine, by wearing a Keffiyeh. #FreePalestine #KeffiyehDay #worldkeffiyehday”

While there is an embassy and many official records recognizing Palestine, Kamel says that sometimes people walk into his restaurant, take a look around at his homages to his homeland of Palestine, and then tell him that Palestine does not exist. He shared this reality in passing the other day while sauntering down the sidewalk with ALBB after giving us a tour of the new building he just bought (!!!). “People come in and tell me that Palestine doesn’t exist. They ask why we show it on the walls.”

It’s a confusing statement to receive, as Kamel was born there and left at the age of 2 when his family was sponsored by a friend to come to America. Listen to his podcast here to learn all about it. But in online reviews for Ziatun, there was a person who left a bad review because they were so offended by the Palestinian decor. They stated that they preferred Israel only for that region. Israel is generally viewed as an occupier of Palestine, who encroaches on Palestinian land over the years.

While some people may prefer for Arab people to disappear, as we saw with the slice and dice treatment of Arab-owned Key Food Beacon in the series of mis-steps and entitlement they endured at the hands of a customer, legal system, local newspaper, possibly Beacon Police, and a complete dismissal by Beacon’s current City Administrator, Arabs are not going anywhere. Obviously. They would just prefer that if you were going to enjoy their authentic food, that you stick up for them a little bit.

Palestinian Journalist Murdered By Israeli Forces On World Keffiyah Day

Dedication to the iconic journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by World Keffiyeh Day on Twitter.

In an unexpected and tragic turn of events, Al Jazeera Arabic’s iconic journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, was shot in the head today while covering the current escalation in the West Bank. Word has been spreading to Western media outlets, as outrage in social media swells. Especially after the New York Times ran the headline of her simply having “died.”

According to fellow reporters who were with her, as reported by Al Jazeera: “We were four journalists, we were all wearing vests, all wearing helmets,” Hanaysha said. “The [Israeli] occupation army did not stop firing even after she collapsed. I couldn’t even extend my arm to pull her because of the shots being fired. The army was adamant on shooting to kill.”

The New York Times that outraged many for its neutered headline.

During Ramadan as Muslims prayed at Al-Aqsa Masque in Palestine/Israel, journalists released videos of themselves being shot at as they tried reporting on Muslim people praying at that mosque being dragged away by Israeli forces. A source to find those videos is Muslim Daily on Instagram.

As reported by Al Jazeera, here is a background on Shireen:

“Abu Akleh, who was a dual Palestinian-American national, was one of Al Jazeera’s first field correspondents, joining the network in 1997.

“Grief and sorrow filled the Al Jazeera offices in downtown Ramallah as the news quickly spread and dozens of colleagues, fellow journalists, friends, and Palestinian figures poured in, including Palestinian politicians Hanan Ashrawi and Khalida Jarrar.

“Palestinian MP Khalida Jarrar said that Abu Akleh was the voice of Palestinians and was killed by ‘the monstrosity of Israeli colonialism and occupation’.

“Shireen was always my voice from the prison cells,” Jarrar told Al Jazeera, adding that a month into her last detention by Israel, Shireen was the first person she saw at her court hearings.”

Last year at this time, Al Jazeera’s Gaza building was blown up by Israel military.

The Resistance That Won't Go Away :: Palestinian Love Shines From Beacon & Beyond

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Pick a day, any day, and Beacon local Kamel Jamal, owner of more than one restaurant in town (Ziatun, Beacon Bread, WTF, creator of Tito Santana Taqueria, and Végétalien, both he since sold), wears his heart on his sleeve for his home country of Palestine.

Every day for him is a day of love he shows for a free Palestine. From the food he plates, the restaurants he decorates, the merch he makes, most centering back to somehow to empower those still living in Palestine.

In this podcast, Kamel discusses how his parents left Palestine when he was a toddler with some of his family thanks to a family friend who sponsored them.

Co-hosts Brandon Lillard and Katie Hellmuth Martin sat down with Kamel on A Little Beacon Blog's sister podcast, "Wait, What Is That?" for an at times emotional interview about his view of how the people of Palestine are living now. The time was May 2021 during the escalation of protesting by residents in Palestine in the neighborhood Sheikh Jarrah. Their homes were scheduled to be demolished, and Muslim neighbors in the Hudson Valley as well as the world were sounding alarms.

In this podcast, Kamel describes his Palestine. He discusses how his parents left Palestine when he was a toddler with some of his family thanks to a family friend who sponsored them. He describes why he continues advocating from America for Palestine's liberation, so that people can live without fear of their homes and businesses being demolished by occupiers. He discusses the lack to basic rights, like clean water, receiving mail, and having to pass through armed checkpoints to get to a job or part of town.

In 2021, a protest march in Newburgh was organized with Next Step Hudson Valley where the Palestinian community came out, consisting of people young and old, with roots in Palestine, Pakistan, and other communities. Speeches were held on the lawn of Representative Sean Maloney's Newburgh's office.

Beaconites normally quiet about their cultural origins brought pages of prepared speeches, to express to an engaged audience about how their parents, siblings, cousins and/or friends felt about the global response to this little neighborhood protest in Palestine that spring. A Little Beacon Blog covered that march, which you can read about here and listen to some speeches.

Kamel Jamal, speaking at the Free Palestine protest march in Newburgh on the steps of Representative Sean Maloney’s office. Several other speakers participated.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Khitam Jamal Nakhleh’s Starbucks order, where her name is “FreeGaza,” which results in the barista shouting the demand to the room. Khitam is Kamel’s sister.
Photo Credit: Khitam Jamal Nakhleh

Since then, a lot has happened. Kamel's sister, who many know as Kate, champions the Free Palestine movement with every step she takes. Recently, she declared she was going by her birth name: Khitam Jamal Nakhleh. She is known to use subtle tactics like ordering a Starbucks under the name of "Free Gaza" so that the demand has to be called out to the room full of customers.

Every now and then, something pro-Palestinian will make the news in the US, like when Emma Watson (Hermione Granger from Harry Potter), and a UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador, voiced her support for Palestine. Or the feature story in Vanity Fair's February 2022 issue, "Generation Gaza" by veteran war correspondent Janine di Giovanni who revisited Gaza "and found resilience and hope among its 2 million Palestinian residents, two thirds of whom are under the age of 25," according to the lead-in for the article.

Also according to the February Vanity Fair feature: "Gaza's 20 and 30 somethings, it so happens, tend to be highly educated, multilingual - and jobless. 64% of the youth labor force is unemployed, largely due to the occupation. Nonetheless, year after year, they have proved indefatigable." Running a business there is virtually impossible, due to actions taken against business owners. But some continue to try, as this designer does, which was featured in Vogue.

In May 2021, neighbors came out to show their support of Palestine by creating a chalk art message on the sidewalk outside of Beacon Bread, owned by Kamel.

Circling back to the first line of this article - pick a day, any day - in the publishing world, an article usually needs to be published in a timely way. Like, back in May or June 2021 after we recorded this podcast episode and covered protest march. In Palestine, their inability to live free lives is every day, with different demolitions of family homes scheduled, like this one at the end of January 2022 or this one where the family had to self-demolish their own home.

But timing gets tricky. During the "Wait, What Is That?" episode, the silence of friends was discussed, acknowledging that talking openly about this topic can be difficult leading to unexpected responses. There is a moment where Kamel's emotions overcome him. You'll need to listen closely to the interview to hear where.

Peek Inside Ziatun

If you haven't been inside of Ziatun yet, here is a peek. Kamel admits this is one of his favorite places to be, and you can tell in the flavor of the food. The hummus is unlike any you have had, being extra smooth. There are plenty of warm soups to choose from, like the Addas soup. View the merch and buy a bag or two. Don't miss the watermelon t-shirt, designed to show resistance through food.

PODCAST DROP! Beacon Bread Company, Ziatun and Tito's Restaurateur Kamel Jamal On Palestine's Future Liberation

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Way back in warmer times in Beacon (June 2021), we sat down with Kamel Jamal to talk about Palestine on ALBB’s sister podcast station, “Wait, What Is That?”

Even though I have known about Kamel for 10 years, I had not made moments to speak with him. Really speak with him. I knew his politics. I knew he fought back in social media. I knew he answered back to outlandish reviews. I knew he didn’t like the empanada guy at the Beacon Farmers Market. I knew he was a Palestinian refugee. I knew his wife Lena was lovely and quietly fierce, and that his sister Kate (who now goes by her Palestinian name, Khitam) was raw fierce and lovely.

And that’s it.

However. When 2020 happened, I started to come out of my shell. On all of my platforms. In different ways (different platforms have different audiences in different moods). I started reporting on Black Lives Matter protests in Beacon. I started researching questionable employment and disciplinary actions by the City of Beacon that might not be able to prove discrimination on paper, but continuously result in decisions that don’t add up. And who knew that writing about COVID safety and vaccination recommendations during a world-wide pandemic would be so gutsy.

Kamel and I started circling each other. Then residents in a neighborhood in Palestine called Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem protested the scheduled take-over or demolishing of their homes by Israeli forces in May 2021, resulting in a lop-sided exchange of bombs that resulted in dozens of Palestinians being killed (including children), as well as some Israeli citizens. Anyone dead is too many. Especially when defending their home. This, after decades of recently lived histories of horrific murders and attacks on both sides of the Israeli checkpoints, resulting in friends and family members lost from the entire region.

Brandon Lillard and I reached out to Kamel to see if he would be willing to speak to us on our podcast, where we could ask him all of our big and small questions. Kamel said yes. We also reached out to Rabbi Brent of the Beacon Hebrew Alliance to see if we could talk to him as well. He considered it, knowing it is delicate territory, and in the meantime, wrote this blog post. Soon after, Next Step Hudson Valley organized a Free Palestine march in Newburgh, which ALBB covered and wrote about here with videos.

Right around that time, Kamel reached out to me, as he wanted to be a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog for 3 of his restaurants: Beacon Bread Company, Ziatun, and Tito Santana’s (WTF is the alter-ego of Beacon Bread, and serves as the cool friend next door who you sometimes see when they’re in the mood). This part was a coincidence, but did create the first time for Kamel and I to really talk over coffee. We were very honest with each other, which was as refreshing as the mint he uses in his watermelon salad.

Take a listen of this podcast episode. There was a moment where he was overcome with emotion, but you’ll probably not be able to find it. Both Brandon and I were very grateful to be sitting with Kamel, with him so accepting of our questions, as he earned to speak about his Palestine.

Go To The Podcast