Talk by: Tova Buksbaum & Wajih Tmaiza Fawzeya, Parents Circle - Families Forum
Moderation: Vered Berman
The Parents Circle - Families Forum (PCFF) is a unique organization made up of more than 750 Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families. Since its establishment, the members - all of whom have lost a family member to the conflict - have undertaken a joint effort, during ongoing violence, to transform their incredible loss and pain into a catalyst for reconciliation and peace. They choose to convert anger and revenge, helplessness, and despair, into actions of hope. PCFF is a fully joint Israeli-Palestinian organization at all levels. With more than 25 years of experience in implementing reconciliation and peace education programs in Israel and the West Bank, the organization's bereaved members speak publicly at over 300 reconciliation, dialogue and public events each year, and operate educational, public awareness, and advocacy projects that foster humanization and empathy towards the "other", both Israelis and Palestinians.
Tova Buksbaum lives in the North of Israel. She is a mother of 3 and a grandmother to 6. She is a clinical psychologist and an activist. In 1970, she lost her brother, Haim Geiger, who was a soldier in the Israeli army. She also lost her cousin, Kurt Yossef Gutfreund, who was one of the 11 Israelis sportsmen killed in the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre. Tova joined the Parents Circle Families Forum in 2006 and has served on the Board of Directors.
Wajih Tomeezi is from Idna in the Hebron district of Palestine. He is a businessman and owns the company "Wajeeh Tomeeze for poultry systems Co". He has 5 children, is a social activist and human rights defender. Wajeeh lost his brother, Hazem, in 1990 when he was only 13 years old. He also lost 3 of his cousins in 2001, following which he joined PCFF, including serving on the Board of Directors.
The lecture series "Civil Society Engagement In Israel/Palestine: Voices Against Hopelessness" focuses on Palestinians and Israelis who are actively committed to deescalating the violence in the region. It offers a platform for voices that remain in the shadows of the conflict and addresses solidarity, memory work and dialogue in times of violence and hopelessness. The speakers will also be available to students and colleagues for exchange in seminars and workshops. The lectures will be held in English. Questions and contributions from participants can be translated into German if required.