Forum to address losses caused by war

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

During periods of war and violent unrest, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there are victims and tremendous losses on all sides. This is particularly true with the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With this in mind, the Naperville Interfaith Leadership Association will address both sides Feb. 15 during a Parents Circle Families Forum at North Central College.

The event will feature points of view from an Israeli woman and Palestinian man, both of whom have lost immediate family members during the conflict.

“Their message is one of basically peace, forgiveness and reconciliation,” said Marc Rudolph, rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom in Naperville, and a member of NILA. The program is free and open to the public.

Parents Circle Families Forum is a not-for-profit organization composed of hundreds of volunteer lecturers, activists and facilitators.

“Half are Israeli and half are Palestinian. All of them have suffered the loss of a close relative in the conflict,” Rudolph said.

He first heard representatives of the organization speak last November for the Chicago Board of Rabbis.

“I was so moved by the stories that I heard and the important voice that they have, that I wanted to bring them to Naperville so that others could hear their message,” he said.

North Central College seemed like a perfect venue for the program. Campus chaplain Lynn Pries, who is a member of NILA, said he sees great value in holding interfaith programs on site.

“I’m particularly concerned about promoting awareness of religious experiences and traditions,” he said. “I’m particularly interested in the Israeli-Palestinian issue. This seemed like this was a good way to have an approach to learning more from bereaved families from both sides.”

Speaking at the program will be Robi Damelin, an Israeli woman whose son was a soldier killed during the conflict, and Ali Abu Awwad, a Palestinian activist who was wounded and also lost a brother.

“What they have in common is the pain that they have experienced in losing a loved one,” Rudolph said. “That pain is what brings them together and what they share. What they also have in common is a desire to see peace; although maybe, they have different ideas about how that peace can be achieved. The focus isn’t on putting forth peace plans. The focus lies in what to do to heal the wounds that they still will have, once peace happens.”