From Pain to Purpose: Israelis & Palestinians Pursuing Peace

Israeli Robi Damelin and Palestinian Mohamed Abu Jafar share a painful bond: the loss of loved ones to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They are members of The Parents Circle-Families Forum, an extraordinary joint initiative uniting over 700 bereaved families from Israeli and Palestinian backgrounds who have collectively chosen the path of reconciliation. Moderated by Rabbi Sarah Berman, Damelin and Jafar will share their stories and discuss why fostering relationship-building and mutual understanding is crucial to achieving lasting peace. 

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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. 

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 1 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.