Friend,

As we work through an extraordinary time together, where challenges are seemingly coming at the Arab American community from every direction, I take pride knowing that Arab Americans are making a difference. Every action you take matters, whether it feels big or small to you, it makes a difference. Know that I am so grateful for all you do, and especially for your support of AAI.

So, for this Arab American Heritage Month, let's find joy, celebrate, and elevate the contributions of our diverse community. We'll start by sharing the story of Reem Kasis, a writer, storyteller, and preserver of culture and cuisine. Enjoy, and look out for another story highlighting an Arab American making a meaningful contribution next week.

“[T]he food was a reminder, despite the weight of what we were witnessing, that we were still alive with plenty for which to be grateful,” wrote Reem Kassis at the beginning of the COVID-19 lock down in April 2020. In this column for the Los Angeles Times [[link removed]] , she compared the experience of cooking during a global pandemic to her time growing up in Jerusalem in the 1990s – when shelter in place orders were given during the Gulf War, and daily life often revolved around culinary comforts.

Reem is a writer, storyteller, and preserver of Palestinian culture and cuisine. Her debut cookbook, The Palestinian Table , was nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award. With 150 Palestinian recipes, The Palestinian Table paid homage to her Palestinian roots. It introduced audiences to the rich tapestry of Palestinian cuisine and culture. As the preface reads [[link removed]] , “from the mountains of the Galilee to the valleys of the south, from the coast of Yaffa all the way to the West Bank. It is scattered across the globe and built from memories of a time when most of us lived in the same land.” Reem’s gift is in her ability to create a sense of place as she explores, through cuisine, the importance of heritage and community.

The late Anthony Bourdain wrote [[link removed]] , "With The Palestinian Table , Reem Kassis gracefully demonstrates the power of food to transcend the political divisions that are, too often, all we know of a place like Palestine. Reading and cooking from this essential book - a thoughtful collection of great recipes, historical and cultural insights, and beautiful photographs - will move you closer to understanding this complex, fascinating part of the world.”

Her second cookbook, The Arabesque Table [[link removed]] , debuted this week. In this collection of recipes from across the Arab world, she takes us on a celebration of Arab cuisine that invigorates our tastes, but also reminds us of how powerful food is in defining the relationship between people, place, and identity.

Reem’s contributions to preserving Palestinian and Arab culture go beyond the meaningful sharing of traditions and cooking. In 2020, she wrote an oped in The Washington Post [[link removed]] , “Here’s why Palestinians object to the term ‘Israeli Food’: It erases us from history,” where she discusses the erasure that comes from cultural appropriation.

As Reem said [[link removed]] , “I have long believed that food is more than sustenance. It is joy and communication, it is love and memories and it tells the story of family, history and tradition.”

We agree with Reem.

Learn more about Reem by visiting her website at www.reemkassis.com [[link removed]] .



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