Jews and Israelis Show Solidarity with Druze Restaurant in New York

 By Nate Feldman

Last weekend, a rocket from Hezbollah, an Iranian sponsored militant group in Lebanon, killed twelve children from the Druze community in Majdal Al-Shams, a village in the Israeli controlled and hotly contested Golan Heights (Syria claims this territory).  

To show solidarity with the victims, many Israelis and Jews in New York City have visited Gazala's Restaurant, which is owned by Gazala Halabi, an Israeli Druze woman living in the U.S.  According to an article in the NY Jewish Weekly publication, it's the only Druze restaurant in New York.  (See At Gazala's, New York City's only Druze restaurant, Hezbollah attack on children draws solidarity diners by Julia Gergely).  

The Druze are an Arab religious minority spread out between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.  They are known for showing loyalty to the countries they reside in.  Druze serve in the Israeli army.  

Israeli-Palestinian Restaurant Majda Closes Down

 By Nate Feldman

For the past 14 years, the Majda restaurant in Ein Rafa, Israel served authentic Middle Eastern food.  It was also a symbol of co-existence as its owners were an Arab-Jewish couple, chefs Yakub Barhum and Michal Baranes.  However, with business struggling, especially in the wake of the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, the couple have decided to close down their restaurant and relocate to France. 

An interesting article about Majda was written in 2019.  It was about the late TV chef Anthony Bourdain, who visited the restaurant during a visit to the Middle East.  While eating there, he said, "You could almost believe for a minute or two that some kind of peace, some kind of reconciliation, a meeting of the minds, sanity, is possible after you visit Majda."  For more, read "Anthony Bourdain and the Magic of Majda," at https://azjewishlife.com/anthony-bourdain-and-the-magic-of-majda/.  

While the closing down of Majda seems like a defeat for coexistence, it also reveals what is possible when given an opportunity.  

Article about Ella Waweya, an Arab woman in the Israeli Defense Forces

 By Nate Feldman

An article in The Jerusalem Post titled "Meet Ella Waweya, the IDF's top Muslim woman, speaking out to the Arab world," by Ohad Merlin is an interesting profile of something less discussed about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which are Arabs that serve with Israel's Army.  

Major Ella comes from Kalunsuwa, an Arab town in Israel proper.  She has been serving in the army for the past 10 years.  Her most prominent role is serving as a spokesperson for the IDF in its communications department with the Arab world.  

The interviewer asks her a number of questions ranging from how her family dealt with her enlistment, her role in communicating with Arab media throughout the Middle East, and other experiences she has had to go through.  

Other places where you can learn more about Major Ella include videos on You Tube, such as "Israeli women and Arab-Israeli women are breaking the glass ceiling in the IDF" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8FVSsAxNP8&pp=ygURbWFqb3IgZWxsYSB3YXdleWE%3D