FIFTY Muslim and Jewish women chatted over tea and reflected on how much they had in common at the first Muslim Jewish Forum Women's event at Urbis in Manchester city centre last Sunday.

Participants at the "Show and Tell" event were encouraged to take along a personal item of cultural or religious significance to encourage dialogue.

The afternoon was the brainchild of Prestwich-born Aimee Banay. The 27-year-old, who now lives in Radcliffe, first recognised the need for more dialogue between Jews and Muslims while she was studying for her social anthropology degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London.

Aimee told the Guide: "The university had very active Palestinian and Islamic societies and this was around the time of the second intifada. It was easy for Jews and Muslims to become polarised against each other."

But against the odds, Aimee established dialogue, between Jewish and Muslim students during her year as co-chairman of the SOAS Jewish Society from 2000-2001.

Now Aimee is keen to further good interfaith relations back at home. And when she met Jonny Wineberg, project officer of Manchester Jewish Representative Council and the Muslim Jewish Forum, there was the funding necessary to bring her dream to fruition.

One participant at Sunday's event, Mrs Qaisra Shahraz said: "We desperately need initiatives such as this to reach out and build bridges. We're all from similar backgrounds."

Following the success of Sunday's event, Aimee plans to hold more informal women's events.