In an air-conditioned room with a kitchenette, seated around a table covered in a polka-dot tablecloth, a group of Jewish teenage girls are nibbling on crackers with tahini and salad they made themselves. Right beside them, a group of Arab teens dance the Dabke to modern Arabic tunes. All of them are campers at the 'Cooking Peace' summer camp, organized by the sustainability education organization 'The Green Network' and held at the Ben Shemen Youth Village.
The meal was prepared during the 'Food is More Than Food' workshop, where campers learned about health, nutrition, and the environment. "Something about working together, me chopping vegetables while another girl mixes the salad, allows for a faster sense of closeness than any conversation we could try to hold," says Rotem Grunewald from Rehovot, who is entering the 12th grade.
Workshops, Discussion Circles, and Hands-on Experience in Professional Kitchens
The camp lasted five days and was attended by 36 teenagers—20 Jewish and 16 Arab. A team of 11 staff members accompanied the participants, including four counselors (two Jewish and two Arab). The camp included cooking workshops, learning sessions on climate and the environment, discussion circles, social activities, and more. The highlight of the gathering was hands-on experience alongside leading chefs in Jerusalem restaurant kitchens.
The initiative was born out of a shift in approach at 'The Green Network' in recent years. "People connect more to the climate crisis through the lens of healthy nutrition," says Miriam Darmoni Shavit, who is responsible for the shared existence activities at the organization. "Learning and experimenting in the kitchen ultimately lead us back to the land, which matters to all of us. From the importance of the land, we can build a shared life."
"You Only Know a Jew If He's a Cop or a Manager"
Maram Younes, also from 'The Green Network', notes that they faced difficulties recruiting Arab youth for the camp, even though higher numbers from the Arab sector usually register for Jewish-Arab encounter programs. "Parents are afraid. The formal approvals, from the Ministry of Education and so on, which we needed to hold the camp, helped us convince them to send their children. It showed that this is a camp the state is aware of, not something held underground."
"In Ar'ara, you only know a Jew if he's a police officer or your manager at work. Here, it's different. We meet and talk, a bit in Hebrew and a bit in Arabic," says Muhammad Mahajhna, one of the campers. "Outside of here, there's violence and the situation is tough. Here, we cooperate and enjoy ourselves together." Mahajhna's friends nod in agreement.
The activities at the camp are conducted in both Hebrew and Arabic. "The fact that we don't speak each other's language well is definitely a barrier," says Gaya Rinat from Omer, who is entering 11th grade, "but you learn how to bypass that barrier. Hand gestures, body language. Of course, it helps that we all know English."
"One Day We Will Be the Adults Here"
On the third day of the camp, a session titled 'Our Stories' took place, where campers discussed events such as October 7 and violence in Arab society through their personal experiences. Grunewald, Rinat, and Yagil Sokoler from Zichron Yaakov, who are entering the 9th grade, said they were not afraid to tackle the heavier topics.
"I come from the Negev," says Rinat, "and there are kids here close to me, from the Bedouin diaspora and Rahat, whose lives are completely different from mine. I'm interested to know how they perceive life in the Negev, and what they think needs to be done to make it better for all of us." Answering what would happen if the conversation escalated, Grunewald says: "We aren't talking alone. We have counselors guiding the discussion who make sure boundaries are kept." Sokoler adds: "We need to hold these conversations because one day we will be the adults here."
"What Matters Is Peace Between Us"
Some camp activities are held in mixed age-based groups, while others are divided into separate Jewish and Arab groups. "There's a sense of relief when you don't have to rack your brain over how to express what you want to say," says Grunewald. Rinat explains that sleeping quarters are also separated between Jewish and Arab teens, noting that this too has advantages: "In the end, those are simple conversations you just want to happen quickly." All three agree, however, that mixing the bedrooms might have created even greater intimacy.
After lunch, while preparing for the 'Climate Fresco' workshop, which addresses the link between greenhouse gas emissions, food waste, and personal dietary habits, 15-year-olds Nuran and Talin from Acre, alongside Lin from Rahat, shared their thoughts on the camp so far.
"A person is a person, whether Muslim or Jewish," says Lin. "What matters is the peace between us." Supporting her words, Talin adds: "We are no different, Jews and Arabs, but we have to take responsibility to break down the barrier between us."
![Campers dancing during the cooking workshop at camp. "Outside of here, there's violence and the situation is tough. Here, we cooperate and enjoy ourselves together" (Photo: Tzofit Dimri)](https://static.davar1.co.il/www/uploads/2026/08/VBN-768x512.jpg "Campers dancing during the cooking workshop at camp. "Outside of here, there's violence and the situation is tough. Here, we cooperate and enjoy ourselves together" (Photo: Tzofit Dimri)")