Cafe RonEl is the go-to restaurant in southern Judea. It is located in the small Jewish community of Mitzpeh Yair. Cafe RonEl is owned and operated by the Barak family, who fulfilled their wish to be part of rebuilding the Jewish homeland when they moved from South Africa to Israel in 2014.

Yosef Barak and his wife RonEl, after whom the restaurant is named, were enchanted by the beauty of Mitzpeh Yair and its breathtaking views of the Judean Desert. They were inspired by the hospitality of the Jewish patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah and immediately began the hard work of restoring their farm with a view to hosting guests for meals and refreshments.

Their modest dream turned into a much-loved dairy restaurant and, a few years later, an additional meat kitchen. Cafe RonEl is a welcome oasis in the Judea Desert where locals visit for community and the Barak’s legendary Friday brunch!

Yosef, with his son Yehuda, his daughters Hadassah and Avigail, and daughter-in-law Tohar, has planted olive trees, flowering bougainvillea, and fragrant Israeli lavender, turning their home into a welcome center of hospitality for the region.

They have created a space for local musicians to perform on Thursday nights, and at the opening of each Jewish month, they invite community members to share their wares and creations at the restaurant.

Their passion for sharing the beauty of the Holy Land with others led them to open their farm to adventurous tourists and youth with affordable camping.

RonEl, with the encouragement of her husband, extended her creativity to create a stunning tabletop collection inspired by the beauty of Shabbat. It is RonEl’s wish that all the nations have an opportunity to learn about the traditions of Shabbat.