Stories, culture, friendship, laughter – and of course, food!
Starting in 2012, women from the Muslim and Jewish communities came together once a month under the auspices of the Board of Deputies’ Shared Table Project to learn how to cook each other’s traditional meals and in the process, break down stereotypes and prejudice.
The cooking sessions were incredibly rewarding and each community learned that the other was multi-ethnic – that is, Muslims and Jews come from all over the world, as their cooking traditions reflect. Some recipes were based on festivals, others on regions – recipes were shared that originated from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia.
In 2016 the Shared Table was opened up to women from all backgrounds and instead of cooking together, each woman brought a dish from her culture to explain and share. This allowed more time for learning and also doing hands-on practical work for the common good. So far the project has produced birthing kits for women in developing countries and care packages for homeless women, with many new beneficiaries lined up.
There are several gatherings of the Shared Table each year, including dedicated sessions for young professional women and women on campus. Find out more on our Facebook page.
Contact us to register your interest in attending future Shared Table Project events.
