Our common nature is a musical journey with Yo-Yo Ma and me, Ana Gonzalez, through this complicated country.

We go into caves, onto boats, and up mountain trails to meet people, hear their stories, their poetry, and of course, play some music, all to reconnect to nature and get closer to the things we're missing.

Listen to Our Common Nature from WNYC, wherever you get podcasts.

It's the splendid table from APM American Public Media. I'm Lynn Rosetta-Casper.

An old cliche, you and your enemy share your foods and understanding breaks through like the rays of the sun.

But it doesn't usually work that way, except when it does, and it did for chefs Sammy Tamimi and Yotum Otolengi. Their cookbooks

are bestsellers. Jerusalem and now Otolengi are beautifully published with gorgeous photos and exotic

flavors. But these two authors have an unusual story. Both grew up in Jerusalem, Yotum in the Jewish West, Sammy

in the Muslim East. Different worlds, yet shared tastes and sensibilities from their childhoods,

brought them together. Stay with us. Lots more coming your way this hour on the splendid table.

This is the splendid table from APM American Public Media, the show about life's appetites.

I'm Lynne Rosetta, Casper.

Yonem Otolengi and Sammy Tamimi lit up the food world with their sexy, delicious takes on the sometimes controversial flavors of their childhood.

They grew up in Jerusalem, a few miles from each other, but politically worlds apart. Yotum in Jewish, West Jerusalem, and Sammy in the Muslim East. But their paths crossed in London, where Yotum owns the restaurant group Otolengi. Sammy is the head chef and partner, and together they co-author the best-selling

Jerusalem, and now they're recently released, Otelengi. Add to this duo Joan Nathan, the Jewish

food scholar and author of numerous books on Jewish foodways. Now, she loves Jerusalem. She lived there

for many years while working for the legendary

mayor, Teddy Collick. Well, we put these three together in Washington, D.C.

Yotam, Sammy, nice to have you here.

Thank you, John. It's a pleasure to be here. Hello.

I just want to tell you that I'm just back from Jerusalem. I was there like two days ago.

And I thought of the two of you growing up in that city.

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