'We are one nation': Jewish, Arab teens build relationships at 'Cooking Peace' culinary camp

The first "Cooking Peace" summer camp, an initiative by the Green Network, recently concluded at the Ben Shemen Youth Village in central Israel. The week-long culinary program brought together approximately forty Jewish and Arab teens, aged 15-17, from across Israel. The camp focused on fostering dialogue, building relationships, and teaching environmentally sustainable cooking practices and nutrition. Activities included a two-day culinary workshop led by professional chefs, with instructors from diverse Israeli backgrounds, including Arab, Jewish, and ultra-Orthodox facilitators.

"Cooking is about happiness, about connection, about being together, about talking and laughing and sharing experiences," said Myriam Charbit, the camp director.

Participants engaged in discussions on various topics, including environmental issues and Jewish-Arab relations, and found common ground despite their different backgrounds. One Jewish teen noted, "Food is such an incredible love language. With no actual language, it really connects everything and everybody." Campers reported learning about each other's cultures and correcting misconceptions, with one Arab teen stating, "I've learned that I don't judge a nation (of people) from an idea that I get from one of them." Another camper expressed, "We are one nation. Like a family."