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Credentials Display

Amiya Waldman-Levi, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Robin Akselrud, OTD, OTR/L; Zahava Friedman, PhD, OT, BCBA; Lola Halperin, EdD, OTR/L; Shifra K. Leiser, OTD, OTR/L; Rivka Molinsky, PhD, CH, OTR/L

Abstract

The worldwide Jewish community is notoriously nomadic because of persecution and displacement through several millennia. The diasporic experience of global Jewish communities led to traumatic events such as historical expulsion and genocide. These experiences embody all five components of occupational injustice. The recent rise in antisemitism has triggered intergenerational trauma among individuals, families, and communities. This paper, grounded in trauma-based research, aims to guide occupational therapists treating Jewish clients and/or teaching Jewish students. The paper outlines trauma-informed implications for therapist-client collaboration in the context of supporting occupational justice for diverse populations. The distinct role of occupational therapists in effectively serving individuals of Jewish religion/ethnicity/culture is illustrated by connecting four vignettes of Jewish intergenerational trauma with trauma-informed care principles. The discussion expands on the application of effective approaches to serving individuals from all backgrounds exposed to trauma or intergenerational trauma by employing trauma-informed care principles.

Comments

The authors declare that they have no competing financial, professional, or personal interest that might have influenced the performance or presentation of the work described in this manuscript.

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