On Sunday, September 8th, CEHV was host to the Parents’ Circle-Families Forum — a grassroots organization of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost immediate family members due to the ongoing Israeili-Palestinian conflict and who, as a matter of principle, promote peace through dialogue.
In a powerful display of what’s possible when the desire for revenge gives way to the work of reconciliation, Israeli peace activist Ofer Lior and Palestinian peace activist Bassam Aramin shared not only their stories of devastating loss — for Ofer, a beloved brother; for Bassam, a young daughter — but their hope for a just and sustainable peace as well. At times such as this, when hope is complicated by anger or grief and peace feels far away, Ofer and Bassam’s commitment to peace is, indeed, a source of hope for us all. It is also a reminder that peace is a verb, that peacemaking is work, and that there’s work to be done.
When asked to reflect on the Grieving Families event (which drew over 80 people, in-person and online), those in attendance had this to say:
“Sunday’s Grieving Families event was very informative and meaningful. I believe we need to talk more about our desire and need to have peace in Israel. We can never cease trying to stop the violence and terrible loss of life. I admire the two very courageous people that spoke of their painful experiences. Thank you for providing the program for our congregation. We have a lot to learn!”
– Fonda Rothblatt
“I am so grateful that CEHV brought Ofer and Bassam of the Parents Circle to our community. I was moved by so much, but especially their answers to the last question, one which so many of us have been asking over and again: What can we do? And their answer, in short, was, tell our story. Tell people that we are real, that we have had loss, that we have suffered, and that we believe the only way is through with each other. While I hold political opinions just as much as anyone else may, what is most important to me is space for continued expression across differences, especially in a small Jewish community like ours. Since October 7th, this is the first time I felt CEHV was also prioritizing messaging like that.”
– Franny Silverman-Newman
“I thought the event was incredibly moving and meaningful and very informative. It reaffirmed my belief that people don’t hate ‘the other’ if they meet on common ground. The meaninglessness of the war in Israel was really brought home. Hamas is the common enemy, not the Jewish people or the Palestinian people.”
– Cindy Silver
“It was deeply moving to be among the CEHV community for the Parents’ Circle event. To receive the committed, compassionate leadership of Sarah Stone and Melanie Wisniewski, to hold space for the tears of grief and hope that were shed, and to bear witness to the Israeli and Palestinian speakers who shared not only their losses with us, but a commitment to peace that has been forged in response to tragedy. As an Israeli-American rabbi and a committed Zionist, I believe that listening to those impacted by generations of violence is critical. That facing our shared pain and lifting up our shared humanity is the first step toward an Israel that lives according to Jewish values.”
– Rabbi Sivan Rotholz, Central Synagogue NYC
The Parents’ Circle-Families Forum event was the first in a series of upcoming events organized and facilitated by CEHV’s Tikkun Olam Committee, including a September 29th discussion of CEHV member Yardina Schwartz’s book ‘Ghosts of the Holy War’ and the October 6th screening of ‘Screams Before Silence’. Check the CEHV website for more information. In the meantime, if you would like to participate in planning or facilitating such events, please be in touch with Sarah Stone, Chair of CEHV’s Tikkun Olam Committee.
“It is not on us to complete the work, but neither are we free to desist from it.” (Pirkei Avot 2:16)
L’shalom,
Rabbi Jack