Choosing to Grieve Together: Parents Circle - Families Forum

November 13, 2025
from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Parents Circle image - two women, one in hijab, hugging

Join bereaved Israeli and Palestinian members of the Parents Circle as they share stories of loss and reconciliation.

The Parents Circle - Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of over 800 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict. Through their educational activities, these bereaved members have joined together to take tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis on journeys of reconciliation. It is often raw and always emotional. But out of these interactions, comes change. Not the kind of change that makes headlines, but a more personal and profound shift in perspective.

As a joint Israeli-Palestinian peace organization, the PCFF models constructive dialogue around shared values. Its staff, members, and thousands of participants are committed to peace and a way forward that centers around empathy and humanization. The PCFF focuses on the shared value of the sanctity of human life.

HIU will hold this event both online and in person with PCFF participants on a Zoom webinar. Those who would like to participate online will be given a Zoom link before the program.

REGISTER

About the Speakers

Layla Alsheikh lives in Bethlehem in the West Bank. In 2002, her 6 months old son, Qussay, became ill and Israeli soldiers prevented Layla from taking him to the hospital for more than five hours. Qussay soon died from the lack of timely treatment.  Layla joined the Parents Circle in 2016. Following her son’s death, she never thought of revenge, but rather has devoted her time and energy to ensuring a better, more peaceful future for her children.

Maayan Inon is an Israeli mother of two daughters, with over 25 years of experience in therapy and healing methods. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and specializes in Chinese medicine and reflexology. On October 7, 2023, both her parents were murdered in their home in Netiv HaAsara by Hamas. Despite the profound loss and grief, Maayan, along with her siblings, chose to issue a joint message calling for “no revenge” and an end to the cycle of bloodshed. Since then, she has focused her efforts on promoting dialogue that chooses life, reconciliation, and creating a shift in consciousness towards empathetic communication and understanding the narratives of others. Maayan speaks to diverse groups, inspiring them to find new solutions and growth out of pain, trauma and loss.

Join our mailing list

Keep up with all the latest happenings at Hartford International.