On Wednesday, May 19th, I will be leading and moderating a program (hosted and sponsored by the Museum of Jewish Heritage) that is focused on sharing different legacies of intergenerational trauma. I have had the honor of inviting several esteemed colleagues for a discussion of the impact of intergenerational trauma in our different groups. The speakers who will join me include: Dr. Jessica Gourneau, a clinical psychologist and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and Clinical Director at American Indian Family Center in St. Paul, Minnesota; Sam Simmons, an alcohol and drug counselor with more than 30 years of experience in culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed work with African American men and their families, founder of the Community Empower Through Black Men Healing Conference, and co-host of Voices on 89.9 KMOJ FM radio; and Dr. Nina Fischer, a scholar of Jewish Studies at Goethe University Frankfurt and granddaughter of non-Jewish Germans who has authored Memory Work: The Second Generation (Palgrave 2015) and other publications exploring the legacy of the Holocaust, the intricate use of histories of trauma in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the role of empathy for the suffering of the other.
In Israel and in the USA, a need for sharing our perspectives with one another is more critically needed than ever. After an extreme week of violence in Israel there is a need, more than ever, for a glimmer of hope for mutual understanding and for the possibility of co-existence without bloodshed. We are also living through a unique time in American history, a transformational time in which relationships among different groups, long-standing inequities and ingrained systemic racism require our willingness to be “citizens of this moment”, as put by Lily Diamond, a Black, White and Jewish writer and activist. We must each reach for our inner story, we must listen to each other’s story, and we must become aware how out actions and inactions are impacting others, if we are to make it a better place for all, and for future generations.
The event is open to the public, but pre-registration online is required. The event is offered free of charge, though a suggested donation of $10 to support such programs would be greatly appreciated by the Museum. Clicking on the image below of the program will take you directly to the registration form for the event.
I hope to see you there, for what I am sure will be an informative and moving discussion!
Irit Felsen
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