This special Virtual Immersion conversation is with two peacemakers, Robi Damelin (Israeli Jew) and Layla Alsheikh (Palestinian Muslim), bereaved mothers who share their stories of loss, reflect on the current horror in Israel and Palestine, and encourage us forward on the journey from revenge to reconciliation. Robi and Layla are members of the Parents Circle – 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.

This live conversation was held on November 13, 2023, in partnership with Feast World Kitchen, a Spokane-based nonprofit renowned for its elevation of immigrant chefs and former refugees. Feast took center stage on November 12 in a stirring act of solidarity. Five local chefs, united by their Israeli-Palestinian heritage, crafted a menu featuring traditional recipes from both cultures, showcasing unity amidst the turmoil in Israel and Gaza. The day’s proceeds were dedicated to the Parents Circle. The Parents Circle and Global Immersion have partnered in immersion experiences for American faith leaders in Israel/Palestine, empowering them for the vital work of peacemaking.

Here are five quick links to resources mentioned in the conversation.

1. 1. Parents Circle Jam Session, a collaboration of Israeli and Palestinian mothers and chefs: https://www.theparentscircle.org/en/pcff-communities_eng/pcff-women_eng/jam-session_eng/
2. 2. New York Times article by Nicholas Kristof featuring Parents Circle: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/opinion/israel-palestine-war-family-loss.html
3. 3. NPR Interview featuring Parents Circle: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/11/05/1209976575/israel-hamas-war-hope-empathy-personal-stories
4. 4. CNN article featuring Robi and Layla: https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/15/us/iyw-israeli-palestinian-hth/index.html
5. 5. An upcoming conversation on Israel/Gaza at Whitworth University in Spokane (11/30 @ 7p): https://forms.whitworth.edu/calendar/event/detail/4152
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Here are the five next steps offered in the conversation:

1. 1. Host a viewing and/or share this conversation.
2. 2. Contact your Member of Congress to demand a ceasefire with this script: https://www.telosgroup.org/advocacy-call-script-call-your-member-of-congress-now/
3. 3. Reach to your Jewish and Muslim kin in your communities.
4. 4. Invest in and subscribe to organizations like Parents Circle, Feast, and Global Immersion that are training peacemakers, mobilizing healers, and incubating dreams.
5. - Parents Circle: https://parentscirclefriends.org/donate/
6. -Feast: https://www.feastworldkitchen.org/donate
7. -Global Immersion: https://globalimmersion.networkforgood.com/projects/206880-support-global-immersion
8. 5. Grow a more holistic, pro-human understanding of and response to the violence in Israel and Palestine by listening to other voices in our Virtual Immersion featuring peacemakers embedded in the trenches of this war on Global Immersion's Instagram and the other “Virtual Immersion” conversations in our podcast feed: https://www.instagram.com/globalimmerse/
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The Virtual Immersion is a series of conversations to platform and amplify the experiences and insights of our Palestinian and Israeli friends and peacemaking partners. The live conversations first take place on Instagram Live @globalimmerse, and are then made available as podcast episodes. These are vulnerable, challenging conversations with peacemakers embedded within this war's trenches.