Dialogue on “Shared Grief, Shared Hope: Bereaved Israelis and Palestinians for Peace”

Georgetown University Office of Mission & Ministry

cordially invites you to

Shared Grief, Shared Hope:
Bereaved Israelis and Palestinians for Peace

featuring a dialogue with members of the Parents Circle–Families Forum (PCFF)

Robi Damelin

Bereaved Israeli mother and PCFF Spokesperson

and

Mohamed Abu Jafar

Bereaved Palestinian brother and PCFF Youth Program Director

Thursday, January 25, 2024
5:30 p.m.
Dahlgren Chapel

Georgetown University
3700 O Street, NW, Washington, DC 20057

Register to attend this event

Please note: GO Card only. Registration is required in order to attend.

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, hear from bereaved Israelis and Palestinians who remain committed to peace, reconciliation, and a path forward based on empathy and honoring the humanity of all. Robi Damelin and Mohamed Abu Jafar, bereaved members of The Parents Circle–Families Forum (PCFF), share the devastating common bond of having lost a close family member to the long-standing conflict and choosing a path of reconciliation. They will share their own stories that transcend history and politics to shed light on the human cost of violence. They will talk about how we heal and recover and uplift our shared humanity.

About Parents Circle – Families Forum

The Parents Circle – Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of more than 700 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict. But instead of choosing revenge, they have chosen a path of reconciliation. Through their educational activities, these bereaved members have joined together to take tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis on their personal journeys of reconciliation. It is often raw and always emotional. But out of these interactions, comes change. Not the kind of change that makes headlines, but a more personal and profound shift in perspective. These bereaved members, armed with the credibility of their loss and the uncommon path they have chosen, have opened a crack in the psyche of a hardened populous. They stir an awareness about the conflict that transcends history and politics. For many, it is the first time they have seen “the other side” as human. As a joint Israeli-Palestinian peace organization, the PCFF models constructive dialogue around shared values. Even since Oct. 7, 2023 its staff, members, and thousands of participants are still committed to peace and a way forward that centers around empathy and humanization. The PCFF focuses on the shared value of the sanctity of human life. This conversation brings our attention to the values that Palestinians and Israelis can agree upon even in the darkest of times.

About Robi Damelin

Robi Damelin is the Israeli spokesperson of the Parents Circle. Her son, David, was killed by a Palestinian sniper in 2002 while guarding a checkpoint during his army reserve service. Robi was named a 2015 Woman of Impact by Women in the World. Robi was selected by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice as one of four Women PeaceMakers. She is the protagonist featured in the documentary, One Day after Peace. Robi was invited to brief the Security Council at the United Nations in May 2022.

About Mohamed Abu Jafar

Mohamed Abu Jafar lives in Jenin, in the West Bank, Palestine. He has been a member of the Parents Circle since 2016. In 2002, his 16-year old brother was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers, injuring 10 others and preventing others from aiding Mohamed’s brother. This tragedy led Mohamed to study nursing. Today he works as a Quality Manager at the Palestinian Ministry of Health. He has taken part in the Parents Circle’s Young Ambassadors for Peace Program, and is a facilitator and manager for the organization’s Youth Summer Camp.

Questions or accommodation requests related to a disability should be emailed as soon as possible to EventsRSVP@georgetown.edu.