2019: Visit to London

Bereaved parents Bassam Aramin and Robi Damelin had a busy schedule during their visit to London in March 2019.

Their crowded itinerary included speaking engagements at:

North Finchley Mosque
the London Islamic Cultural Society
JW3 (the Jewish community centre in Hampstead)
SOAS (the London University School of African and Oriental Studies)
Finchley Progressive Synagogue
P21 Gallery at Euston
‘Limmud After Dark’ at Harrow College

They also spoke at a screening of ‘Two Sided Story’, the feature length film about the work the Bereaved Families Forum does to break down barriers between the Palestinian and Jewish communities in Israel/Palestine.

Robi and Bassam were greeted with overwhelmingly positive reactions wherever they spoke, and enlightened hundreds of new people about the arguments for pursuing peace and reconciliation instead of revenge and retaliation.

The photo shows Bassam deep in conversation with Catherine West, Labour MP for Hornsey and Wood Green.

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Judith Elkan’s friends and FBFF supporters met at the New North London Synagogue on 19th June for a concert in her memory. The programme, planned to reflect Judith's musical tastes, included works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky as well as Israeli and Arabic songs.
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Chani Smith, former FBFF Secretary, pays tribute to Judith Elkan who died aged 92 on Thursday 24th February
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An Israeli and a Palestinian, who each lost a sister, spoke online to hundreds of FBFF supporters about advancing reconciliation between their communities.

Bereaved Families Forum under attack

The Bereaved Families Forum is being threatened with tough new restrictions on its activities by Israel’s recently-elected coalition government. The most extreme anti-Palestinian factions in the Cabinet are planning to curtail the organisation’s access to high schools, where bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families have for years been allowed to meet groups of teenagers before they are called up for army service.
Judith Elkan’s life celebrated with classical and Middle Eastern music

Judith Elkan’s friends and FBFF supporters met at the New North London Synagogue on 19th June for a concert in her memory. The programme, planned to reflect Judith's musical tastes, included works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky as well as Israeli and Arabic songs.
Breaking down walls of fear

An Israeli and a Palestinian, who each lost a sister, spoke online to hundreds of FBFF supporters about advancing reconciliation between their communities.
Three-way discussion defies Covid-19
Our events

Meetings, presentations and fund-raising events
2019: Garden party

Supporters and guests spent a July afternoon in the glorious garden of FBFF Chairman Judith Elkan.
2019: Bringing the message to London

Robi Damelin and Bassam Aramin speak at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
2017: Lionel Blue legacy funds youth award

Rabbi Lionel Blue, famous for his thought-provoking contributions to the BBC’s Today programme, has remembered the Bereaved Families Forum in his will.
2014: Not in a jam – and certainly not in a pickle

Israeli and Palestinian women collected their favourite traditional recipes for jams and pickles.
2013: Tony Blair endorses peace work of PCFF

‘Each side doesn’t always see the pain of the other side. It’s important for both sides to understand that it’s a shared experience, not a unique one.’ – Tony Blair, former Prime Minister and Middle East Peace Envoy.

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History of the Forum

The origins of the Bereaved Families Forum.
The Team

Our patrons are a group of individuals, all distinguished in their own spheres, who have agreed to lend their support and endorsement to FBFF. The Trustees are a group of FBFF supporters who oversee the management of the charity and guarantee its adherence to the highest legal and ethical standards. The Steering Committee are enthusiastic volunteers who undertake the planning and execution of our promotional and fundraising activities.
The Bereaved Families’ Forum

The FBFF was set up to support the Bereaved Families Forum (PCFF), a joint Israeli/Palestinian organisation of families who have lost a close family member to the conflict. Instead of seeking revenge, they have chosen the path of reconciliation.
Judith Elkan, peacemaker

Chani Smith, former FBFF Secretary, pays tribute to Judith Elkan who died aged 92 on Thursday 24th February
What FBFF does

FBFF is a UK charity that supports the work of the Bereaved Families Forum – sometimes known as the Parents Circle-Families Forum (PCFF). We raise funds to support bridge-building activities between the communities in Israel/Palestine. We also work to promote their activities and spread information about them more widely in the UK.
Talking peace in person

‘I didn’t think about revenge. If you consider violence you are a victim again. I decided not to be a victim.’ – Bassam Aramin.
Bereaved Families Forum under attack

The Bereaved Families Forum is being threatened with tough new restrictions on its activities by Israel’s recently-elected coalition government. The most extreme anti-Palestinian factions in the Cabinet are planning to curtail the organisation’s access to high schools, where bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families have for years been allowed to meet groups of teenagers before they are called up for army service.
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Judith Elkan’s life celebrated with classical and Middle Eastern music

Judith Elkan’s friends and FBFF supporters met at the New North London Synagogue on 19th June for a concert in her memory. The programme, planned to reflect Judith's musical tastes, included works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky as well as Israeli and Arabic songs.