Here's
how you can light up a delicious Middle Eastern holiday dinner at home, and
help the public peace process at the same time.
Candles
SEEING THE LIGHT: Businesswomen work
for peace was the banner over the San Francisco Chronicle article two days
ago -- 17 November 2004.
"The Jerusalem Candle of Hope" provides
light, and so do the Israeli and Palestinian women who cooperate to create
them.
It's a wonderful story of citizen creativity from The
Business Council for Peace (BPeace), a group of American businesswomen.
They had the idea of bringing Palestinian and Israeli
women together to make a product that could enhance their mutual understanding
and improve their economic condition.
"We believe if we can strengthen women, we can
strengthen their role in the peace process," said Anne Glauber, a member
of the Council.
"Women + Business = Peace" they
believe. Their story is at:
A Council team traveled to the Middle East and
linked an Israeli candle factory in Nazareth that employed Russian immigrant
women with a Palestinian embroidery shop in Bethlehem to create the candle.
The wonderful story is on the Web:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/11/17/HOGL79PP1L1.DTL
Proceeds from the sale will benefit the
Parents' Circle, an organization of Israelis and Palestinians who lost family
members in the conflicts, and come together to heal through their relationships
and reject violence. Income will also provide bonuses for the women's
families.
You can purchase the "Jerusalem Candle of
Hope" at:
Cookbooks
Now you need a meal for the candlelight.
A new cookbook -- PALESTINIAN AND
JEWISH RECIPES FOR PEACE -- is a November, 2004 publishing
"first" -- 100 beautiful pages of recipes for the table and for
building relationships at home, in schools and neighborhoods, between
nations.
It is the creative two-year work of love of the
12-year-old Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group on the San Francisco
Peninsula, preparing for their 151st meeting.
Proceeds from the book will help print new editions,
toward the success of a Middle East public peace process that benefits all.
Ordering information and much more about the book is
at:
By the lives we live, may we bless the
coming very special Season of Light, both our peoples, and all humankind.