One year ago, the deadliest attack took place upon the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Over a thousand people were killed and over 200 more were taken hostage. A year later, some have been killed, and some remain captive. The targeted venues included a peace-themed music festival and a peace activist community near the Gaza border.
Today is a really horrific anniversary, and it's a day of pain for the Jewish community.
If you follow politics or have followed anything on TikTok, you'll know that following this attack came more devastation and death. A year later, there is no solution -- only escalation. Many Israelis remain displaced from their homes and in trauma treatment, including much of the north of the country, which has been facing near constant rocket fire since October 8th. Anxiety remains high because of this.
There's videos on both sides of gruesome footage. There's comments on these videos -- some wishing death upon Palestinians, but there's also more than a few comments wishing death on the Israeli and Jewish people. A year ago was the start of the current resurgence of demonization of Jews as a whole in response to a government's actions.
I have been open in the fact that I support Palestine and under no circumstances do I support murder. That being said, it is always important to look carefully at how all groups have been, are, and will be impacted. My heart hurt upon learning of October 7th. It also hurt recognizing at that time that the global Jewish community would personally carry the weight of Netanyahu's actions. Two-thirds of American Jews favor a two-state solution with Palestine being demilitarized.
Yet the community continues to be ostracized as if members are personally carrying out the attacks thousands of miles away. Alarmingly, much of the brazen hatred seen has nothing to do with the situation in Israel and Palestine, but uses the tremendous plight of Palestinians as an excuse to resurrect disturbing tropes about and attacks toward Jews that were previously taboo. Obviously, this kind of exploitation of suffering does not advance the cause of peace.
Many of us who have watched the devastation unravel do not exist in one of the directly affected communities. As outsiders, we need to understand the impact this has on everyone. I have spoken about the impact on Palestine. Today, on the anniversary of October 7, it should be our responsibility to learn how this has affected the Jewish community.
How has this impacted Jews?
Well, the world started to feel more unsafe than it previously had.
And rightfully so.
Globally, anti-semitic attacks rose astronomically. A synagogue was burned down in Tunsisia, and another was set on fire in Armenia. In Russia, a Jewish Center had "death to Jews" painted on it. In France, a man was stabbed while the attacker yelled antisemitic slurs. In California, a Jewish Persian dentist was murdered at his own workplace. Homes of Jews and even survivors of the Holocaust have been egged, vandalized, and marked. There have been people praising the Holocaust and Hitler.
Teenagers are strongly affected on their social media posts that have nothing to do with the conflict. "Death 2 Jews" was spray painted in Las Vegas and "Kill the Jews" was spray painted Northern California. A rabbi was attacked during a Lyft in Washington.
Less than a month ago, a man urinated on the porch of a Jewish family in New York while using antisemitic slurs.
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From a mental health perspective, this affects both therapists and clients. Jewish therapists have been ostracized from the community; relationships and referrals from other mental health professionals deteriorated. Jewish clients are left in a scary space of wondering if their mental health provider or practice holds hate toward them.
This affects an ability for patients to continue receiving mental health services. If you're already vulnerable and brave enough to take the step to receive care, but then have the added pain of worrying about antisemitic bias seeping into your healthcare? I probably would cancel my appointments too.
Many of us understand how health disparities affect other populations, but this is something as healthcare providers, we need to work to better understand and validate.
Jewish patients do fear antisemitic attacks. They fear for their families and children. They may fear publicly stating their religion or ethnicity. This does affect mental health. Rates of depression, anxiety and sleep concerns have risen for Jews as a whole.
At the end of the day, everything that is going on in the world is just fucked up.
Regardless of views, a lot of people died a year ago and that weight is carried heavily within the community. We cannot minimize the losses.
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Given the recent struggles in mental health for the Jewish community, here are some resources to check out for yourself, a loved one or a client:
Anti Defamation League: They launched the "If you hear something, say something" campaign in response to the increase in antisemitism. There are quite a few resources on here worth looking at and a lot of information to learn more from.
Jewish Women International: JWI has a wealth of programs and initiatives worth reading about. They have quite a few events coming up regarding October 7th and the impact it has created on relationships, among others.
The Blue Dove Foundation: Resources, stories, workshops and trainings focusing on mental health and substance use in the Jewish community.
Jewish Therapist Collective: This is a directory of Jewish therapists across the country to help you find care. If you're a clinician, there's also resources for you here too. If you're not Jewish, they host "Ask a Jewish therapist" which is pretty cool.
Chai Lifeline: Crisis services available focusing on trauma especially around discrimination, global attacks, etc.
Jewish Queer Youth: Support for LGBTQIA+ teens in the Orthodox, Chassidic, and Sephardi/Mizrahi communities. Other LGBTQIA+ resources can be found here.
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