Recently Jewish and Arab women held a common celebration of International Women's Day, thanks to a "Cooking Up a Dialogue" workshop.  The program is funded and operated by the Central Galilee Women's Association, Partnership 2000, Na'amat Women of Nazareth Illit, and the Nazareth Illit chain of community centers.

The Cooking Up a Dialogue program was developed as a means of bringing together women from the Jewish and Arab sectors.  The women meet once a week, introduce each other to authentic dishes from their respective cuisines, and follow up by cooking up healthy dishes and enjoying themselves at the same time.

This platform of coexistence enables the women to discuss assorted issues, for example differences in cooking methods, culture-related customs and myths.  As time goes on, they get to know each other more deeply as the dialogue develops and they are able to discuss other, sometimes painful areas.

The program was established following the Second Lebanon War and is currently in its second cycle of operation.  Last year saw personal connections forming between participants and their families.  This, say the program's organizers, enables people to see things from a different perspective and is important and significant for creating social relations that might usher in a better future.