Published: 9 June 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Catch up with the full reports and audio from the powerful peacebuilding tour by two bereaved fathers Israeli Rami Elhanan and Palestinian Bassam Aramin.
During two weeks on the ground in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin managed to touch the hearts of more than 2600 people, often bringing audiences to tears.
They spoke to school children from six Jewish day schools, young adults from youth movements, university students and staff, at sold-out public events in all three cities and at meetings with politicians from the Liberal, Labor and Greens parties.
For those who missed out, a recording of Rami and Bassam at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre is available to watch until 18 June for $10.
Rami is a Jewish Israeli who lost his daughter Smadar, aged 14, in a Palestinian suicide bombing. Bassam is Palestinian, and his daughter Abir was killed, aged 10, by an Israeli border police officer.
The Jewish Independent brought the pair to Australia to share their message of peace and resilience, despite deep loss.
Jewish youth from across Sydney hear peacebuilders' optimistic message of hope
On the first day of their visit, Rami and Bassam shared the stories of the untimely deaths of their respective daughters with media and students at ABC News, SBS, Moriah College, AUJS and youth movement leaders in Sydney. Their focus was the need for both sides to change their attitude to violence.
