{
  "id": 94999,
  "title": "'We are one nation': Jewish, Arab teens build relationships at 'Cooking Peace' culinary camp",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/we-are-one-nation-jewish-arab-teens-build-relationships-at-cooking",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-03T18:16:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-904466"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The first Cooking Peace summer camp concluded at the Ben Shemen Youth Village in central Israel with a graduation ceremony on Friday. The week-long culinary program brought together forty teens, aged 15-17, from across Israel, with most participants being Jewish and Arab. The camp's activities focused on fostering dialogue and relationships, sustainable cooking practices, and nutrition. Chef-led workshops formed a significant part of the program.\n\nMyriam Charbit, the camp's director and a representative of the Green Network, emphasized the importance of diversity in Israeli society. She believed that cooking opened up opportunities for participants to connect, learn from each other, and share experiences. Charbit partnered with Maram Younis, another Green Network staff member, to establish the camp. Younis highlighted the significance of creating an environment where teens could comfortably discuss sensitive topics, such as Jewish-Arab relations and environmental issues, despite their differing backgrounds.\n\nCamp attendees expressed their appreciation for the camp and the friendships they formed. Noga, a Jewish teen from Tel Aviv, emphasized how food acted as a universal language that connected everyone. She noted that the campers shared similar interests, such as music and food, and that they learned about each other's backgrounds. Similarly, 15-year-old Arab Muslim girl Nouran from Akko shared that the camp exposed her to different perspectives and helped her develop a more nuanced understanding of her peers' religions.\n\nThe camp emphasized the bonds formed among the participants, with some campers describing their newfound friendships as \"like a home.\" Retal, a 16-year-old Muslim girl from Tayibe, described the week as \"the most beautiful experience\" and emphasized the strong connections she made with her peers. Chef Jolyana Khalil, who led the culinary workshop, explained that cooking provided a practical reason for the teens to collaborate, ask questions, and learn from one another. She noted that the teens, despite their diverse backgrounds, grew closer through song and shared experiences.\n\nOverall, the Cooking Peace summer camp successfully brought together Jewish and Arab teens to build relationships, learn about sustainable cooking practices, and foster a sense of unity within Israeli society.",
  "summary": "Participants said the camp showed them how shared interests, music, and food could create connections despite differences in culture, religion, and background.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/94999.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Jewish couple 'attacked by teens who tried to take clothing' - as 'appalling' rise in antisemitic incidents revealed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/jewish-couple-attacked-by-teens-who-tried-to-take-clothing-as",
        "published": "2026-08-04T23:01:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}