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.
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