Recently 25 Jewish and Arab chefs from all over Israel gathered for a celebration of Arabic delicacies.

The A-Sham (“Levant” in Arabic) food festival was held for the first time this past December. It was timed to coincide with Haifa’s annual Holiday of Holidays, a festival that brings together elements of Hanukkah, Christmas and Id al-Adha in a demonstration of the northern port city’s multiculturalism.

A-Sham is the brainchild of Arab Israeli chef Nof Atamna-Ismaeel, winner of the 2014 Israeli MasterChef competition.