Sunday, March 7th, 2021

I haven’t eaten indoors at the sabbath cafe before. I also don’t think I’ve been there when it isn’t the Sabbath. I think I started going there when the House of Hundred Grandmothers first went on lockdown last year and I couldn’t visit family. The restaurants are open as of today. I’ve been craving shakshuka all afternoon. I head there straight from work. I stop in the doorway. A server sees me. “Do you want to eat inside? You’ll need your Green Pass.” I show it to her on my phone. I tell her that it’s the first time I’ve used it. She responds with a Hebrew word that doesn’t translate, sort of like “Bon Appetit” but usually used when you see someone wearing new clothes. I sit down at a table for one in the corner. A few parties are at other tables, which are spaced further from each other than before. I order the shakshuka. It’s as good as I remember and less expensive. It comes with a salad, two large rolls, a ramekin of tahini and one of olives. The order comes quickly. The server makes a mistake putting it down on the table. The handle of the burning-hot pan points right at my chest. That’s happened before. I use my fork and knife to rotate it gingerly to where it isn’t a danger. I eat everything. Later in the evening, I feel like I may have eaten too much. But it’s worth it.