Peace by Tourism culinary scholarship is the recipe for coexistence in Israel

While knives have become associated with terror attacks on the streets of Jerusalem, two culinary students from opposite sides of the city are proving that their blades can be tools for coexistence through the culinary arts.

Nita Shevach grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in West Jerusalem while Ibrahim Yassin comes from an Arab neighborhood on the east side. While both share a passion for cooking, neither of them thought they would find themselves studying together at one of the world's most prominent culinary institutes.

Through the Peace by Tourism program, these two chefs were sent to study at the prestigious Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France. The program grants full scholarships to six students, three Palestinians (Christians and Muslims) and three Jews, for a bachelor's degree in culinary arts and service management. The students are thrown into a whirlwind of learning French, learning to cook and learning to get along.

Nitai explained that, as a group, being outside of Israel allows the students to bond as they have to rely upon each other for emotional support in an intense program. He reflected upon the difficulty of being abroad while conflict erupts in Israel and he affirmed that, as divides between Arabs and Jews in Israel grew deeper, his friendship with Ibrahim and the other students became stronger.

Ibrahim related that while the students were in Lyon, a series of knifing and car ramming attacks swept across Jerusalem. One day, his brother-in-law was arrested by Israeli authorities and Ibrahim was frightened.

"The first person I told was Nitai," Ibrahim said, explaining that, suddenly, his Jewish friend was the only person who could comfort him when he was afraid.

"I could see it on his face," Nitai said, recalling the incident. "That was a frightening situation, we were all busy in our daily lives" Nitai said and affirmed that it was emotionally difficult "to know that your family is somewhere and you can't do anything."

"People can say that we are from different sides of a war," Nitai said, "but in the end, I was the only one who could understand him because I am from Jerusalem."

When the students returned to Israel, Ibrahim's father was worried about him carrying a bag with his collection of kitchen knives for fear that, if stopped by Israeli authorities, he would be arrested.

He explained that the group, who have become like family to him, arranged for him to have a set of knives to use so that he wouldn't have to carry them.

Both men agree that education and communication are the bedrock to coexistence and the program has taught them that peace is possible.

"Once you break down the walls between us," Ibrahim said, "we can work together."

"The fact that we are working together and feeding people, this is the first step," Nitai said.

Middle Eastern cuisine with a French influence

Ibrahim prefers to use local ingredients that are native to region while incorporating French cuisine. In a special dinner for the program's supporter's at the Legacy Hotel in Nazareth on Wednesday, Ibrahim created a special dish from a grain commonly used in Palestinian cuisine called Freekeh. He created a special meat pastry with veal cheeks wrapped in dough, in the shape of bonbons (French candies) alongside spinach shots with yogurt and Freekeh.

Nita's dish was also inspired by native Israeli ingredients that grow in the springtime.

"This is the best season for produce," he said.

Nitai served grouper fish which he referred to as "the king of the Mediterranean," alongside roasted fennel with star anise, orange and fresh green almonds which grow in and around Jerusalem during the spring.

As the program also teaches students management and business skills, both men hope to implement what they have learned by starting a business that will teach peace and co-existence through cooking.

"For me the dream is to build an educational system," Nitai said, teaching about nutrition about food."

Emily Rose is a journalist and webdesk editor for i24 NEWS