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This work was the brainstorm of MIMI’s owner Andy Shallal, who after searching for new twists on his falafel recipe, came into contact with the cookbooks of Jewish cookbook author Joan Nathan. Nathan, during her career in Jerusalem had focused on the use of food as an icebreaker for difficult meetings between ethnic and religious groups in the region.
Shallal, an Arab-American, had been taking the same approach in his cosponsorship of “Peace Cafes” with the D.C. Jewish Community Center to encourage dialogue between Arabs, Jews and Palestinians. A centerpiece of the dialogue involved the symbolic “breaking of the bread” together.
Meanwhile, my artwork had been taking on a similar focus, and in the last year, I had created a “Peace Wall,” a 3’ x 4’ box resembling the Wailing Wall, with holes through which people could insert prayers for peace.
When Andy Shallal asked me to paint as “Foods of Peace,” the seven foods which Jews and Arabs have historically shared: grapes, olives, pomegranates, dates, figs, wheat and barley, I was delighted to do so. I hope you enjoy this feast.
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