I'm Aiton Weinstein.

And I'm Naor Menninger.

And you're listening to Two Nice Jewish Boys.

Nothing in Robbie Demlin's life could have prepared her for that day.

Not growing up in South Africa under apartheid, not her immigration to Israel in 1967, nor any other

character-forging event throughout her life. A mother is not meant to bear the death of her own

child. But what is meant to be is not always what ends up happening. Robbie's son David was shot

by a Palestinian sniper in March of 2002.

But from the endless grief and sorrow, Robbie chose to re-emerge with a new purpose in life.

Counting from 1860, 23,645 Israelis have lost their lives in wars or terror attacks.

Every year, on the National Memorial Day, around 1.5 million Israelis have lost their lives in wars or terror attacks.

Every year, on the National Memorial Day, around 1.5 million Israelis, almost 19% of Israel's population, visit the cemeteries to remember their lost loved ones.

But recently, on the National Memorial Day, there's another event that catches public attention,

the alternative memorial ceremony conducted by the Parents Circle Families Forum,

in which both Israeli and Palestinian families who lost their loved ones to war or terror unite in

their grief. The controversy in Israeli society around these ceremonies

and around the forum's agenda in general is vigorous. Nevertheless, the organization that has

more than 600 families as members, both Israeli and Palestinian, continues its struggle to end

the violence. Robbie Demlin is the forum spokesman,

and she's here today to talk about her personal story, about her son David, and about the

Parents Circle Families Forum, which became her life's purpose. Before we get to the episode today, guys, let me tell you about our friends over at the

University of Hamburg.

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