What is Israel’s path to healing and strengthening national resilience after October 7?
Ono Academic College and The Jerusalem Post’s Conversation Corner hosted a powerful webinar on the topic on Sunday, featuring experts Dr. Ronen Berger, a senior lecturer at Ono Academic College, and Tamar Lavi, an educational psychologist, doctor, and the head of Knowledge Development at NATAL, the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center. The webinar was moderated by Post Deputy Editor-in-Chief Tamar Uriel-Be’eri.
The discussion delved into the impact of the October 7 events, which have fundamentally challenged some of the nation’s most basic assumptions.
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The trauma has deeply affected beliefs in the benevolence of the world, the idea that the world is a meaningful place, and the assumption of self-worth.
“Is Israel still in the trauma phase, or has it moved into a state of post-trauma?” Dr. Berger asked.
The session explored how this state affects treatment and the concept of “national trauma,” a term coined by NATAL. This unique form of collective trauma intertwines mental distress with national identity, raising questions of nationality and social borders.
What is nature therapy?
“Nature therapy is a therapeutic method that works in creative ways within nature, using it as a co-therapist,” he explained. “In nature therapy, we work more with what we find in the here and now. We use materials like mud or trees to create our artwork, but we also address the changes nature brings as offerings.”
“We work on the beach and build a sandcastle which represents something,” he explained, “and then a wave comes and takes this castle. The wave, nature, introduces the idea of change and loss. This relates to trauma and stress.” Dr. Berger stressed the importance of acknowledging these natural events as therapeutic interventions, helping clients to relate to them and understand the concepts of control and predictability.
The loss of faith in humanity and goodness is a significant aspect of the trauma experienced by Israelis. Dr. Berger noted, “We cannot work with post-trauma because we cannot recognize who is post-traumatic. What we want to do now is help people and communities regain and build their coping mechanisms.” He emphasized the need to strengthen various aspects of individuals, from imagination and social bonds to cognitive functions and belief systems.
Lavi echoed this sentiment. “Working within the community, we always have a perspective of prevention. NATAL works all year round, preparing for emergencies during times of tranquility.” She highlighted the immediate interventions they carried out following the events of October 7, emphasizing the need for ongoing support at both individual and communal levels.
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Lavi explained the multi-layered approach to intervention in the context of national trauma. “When it’s an individual trauma, we work with the individual, but when it’s a social event, we work in the social realm. If there’s a sense of betrayal, we try to regain and rebuild trust and safety.” This approach includes working with natural community leaders and organizations, especially in kibbutzim that were evacuated and hosted by other communities. “We would work with the kibbutz on ways to reconnect the members to one another,” she added.
Art therapy also plays a crucial role in the healing process. Dr. Berger highlighted the power of creativity in trauma recovery. “When we face an empty page and fill it with color and images, we move from being passive to making choices. This process helps us express our feelings and connect to our strengths.”
Lavi stressed the importance of creativity in coping with stress and trauma. “Trauma takes away the symbolic level, playfulness, and creativity. Art therapy helps to regain these aspects, allowing individuals to connect to their imagination and create a better reality.”
The burden on mental health workers was another critical topic. Lavi acknowledged the challenges faced by therapists who are also victims of the trauma. “Therapists live in the south, have children in the army, and have experienced grief and loss. They need support and supervision to cope with secondary traumatic stress.”
Dr. Berger shared his personal experience, emphasizing the sense of meaning and contribution derived from their work. “The work gives you a lot of meaning. The feeling of property control and contribution strengthens my sense of belonging.”
Watch the previous episode on the Jerusalem Post's Facebook page.
Learn more about Conversation Corner
Both experts repeated just how important community is in building resilience. Lavi noted, “We work a lot with developing coping resilience. It’s about how you feel part of the community and build bridges between people.” Dr. Berger added that resilience programs, especially those involving art and play, are crucial in the education system to help children and communities cope with ongoing stress and trauma.
Dr. Berger and Lavi concluded by emphasizing the profound challenge and necessity of moving forward. “I am grappling to understand what to do with my anxiety, sadness, anger, and sense of helplessness,” Dr. Berger reflected, encapsulating a sentiment shared by many. Lavi stressed the importance of the ongoing struggle for emotional resilience: “We must rise up again and again, and if it’s difficult, rise up with the difficulties.”
This article was written in cooperation with Ono Academic College.