I recently expressed to someone, after discussing what's been going on, a random thought that popped into my head: "If they hadn't persecuted us so much over the centuries, we may have assimilated by now. Who knows." No Holocaust survivors in my family, not religious, but I feel a stubborn resolve to continue as a Jew. I would feel as if I were betraying ancestors who suffered so much.
Jewish trauma goes back millennia and it is self-inflicted. When the Israelites left Egypt they turned on Moses five times wanting to return and this before they even reached Sinai. Then the founding trauma of the children of Israel occurred with the Molten Calf. This was followed by the terrible story of the scouts/spies and Korach's revolt. What is the trauma? Jewish ambiguity about signing on to the covenant creating a nation of laws, preferring instead to remain a tribe with the usual family feuds. Time to come to grips with the trauma, sign on to the deal, become a nation and defend its sovereignty ruthlessly. Only that will cure the wound.
Not to ever doubt you Joshua, but an article like this should be backed up with scientific studies on the effects of collective trauma and individual trauma and even specific types of trauma like the Holocaust and slavery etc.
From a personal perspective ..... I have gone thru quite a bit of Jewish and other trauma in my life and with all the benefits that may be derived from trauma, I would have very much preferred as little of it as possible and to derive whatever benefits it may provide from another non painful venue. ahimsa papa j
We carry our trauma in our genes (even after assimilation). There is a wonderful short story written by Arthur Miller ... takes place post WWII Italy (featuring at least one Jewish American GI and genetic memory). In a small taverna, and elderly gentleman, a peddlar, arrives. And certain remarks made but one GI (the Jewish one) is drawn to the table where the packages of the peddlar are placed and he notes the knots made in the string .... just like his grandfather made...peddlars' knots. Of course this was Miller so the writing draws you in .. like a web. It has remained with me for over 60 years because I could identify with that feeling of connection... I now can understand why Evangelicals are in support of Israel: end of Jews, end of Days.
How can you quote Gabor Mate' who uses his "Holocaust credentials" to libel Israel? Aren't there others who write about trauma who are more worthy of quoting?
You don’t need to cancel him but it’s ironic that you would include someone whose own views and mendacious statements about Zionists ( vast majority of Jews), is a source of trauma itself.
Also, humor is but one example of an anti-fragility mechanism, which Israelis are great at. Becoming more conservative is another. But it also makes a society less adaptable.
I recently expressed to someone, after discussing what's been going on, a random thought that popped into my head: "If they hadn't persecuted us so much over the centuries, we may have assimilated by now. Who knows." No Holocaust survivors in my family, not religious, but I feel a stubborn resolve to continue as a Jew. I would feel as if I were betraying ancestors who suffered so much.
Jewish trauma goes back millennia and it is self-inflicted. When the Israelites left Egypt they turned on Moses five times wanting to return and this before they even reached Sinai. Then the founding trauma of the children of Israel occurred with the Molten Calf. This was followed by the terrible story of the scouts/spies and Korach's revolt. What is the trauma? Jewish ambiguity about signing on to the covenant creating a nation of laws, preferring instead to remain a tribe with the usual family feuds. Time to come to grips with the trauma, sign on to the deal, become a nation and defend its sovereignty ruthlessly. Only that will cure the wound.
Not to ever doubt you Joshua, but an article like this should be backed up with scientific studies on the effects of collective trauma and individual trauma and even specific types of trauma like the Holocaust and slavery etc.
From a personal perspective ..... I have gone thru quite a bit of Jewish and other trauma in my life and with all the benefits that may be derived from trauma, I would have very much preferred as little of it as possible and to derive whatever benefits it may provide from another non painful venue. ahimsa papa j
We carry our trauma in our genes (even after assimilation). There is a wonderful short story written by Arthur Miller ... takes place post WWII Italy (featuring at least one Jewish American GI and genetic memory). In a small taverna, and elderly gentleman, a peddlar, arrives. And certain remarks made but one GI (the Jewish one) is drawn to the table where the packages of the peddlar are placed and he notes the knots made in the string .... just like his grandfather made...peddlars' knots. Of course this was Miller so the writing draws you in .. like a web. It has remained with me for over 60 years because I could identify with that feeling of connection... I now can understand why Evangelicals are in support of Israel: end of Jews, end of Days.
Forgot to mention the name of the peddlar: Moises DeBenedetto (in case you didn't "get it"; it is Moses of Blessed ....
How can you quote Gabor Mate' who uses his "Holocaust credentials" to libel Israel? Aren't there others who write about trauma who are more worthy of quoting?
The topic of epigenetics from generational trauma is fascinating. The reference to Gabor Mate, however, ruined an otherwise excellent article.
I don’t believe in canceling people because they don’t agree with me on certain topics.
You don’t need to cancel him but it’s ironic that you would include someone whose own views and mendacious statements about Zionists ( vast majority of Jews), is a source of trauma itself.
His son is even worse.
Gabor Mate is not a scientist. See :https://thecassandracomplex.substack.com/p/authoritarianism-and-the-amygdala for a critique of some of his pronouncements. Trauma is a complex matter. Yehuda knows more than Mate.
Also, humor is but one example of an anti-fragility mechanism, which Israelis are great at. Becoming more conservative is another. But it also makes a society less adaptable.