Shalom - The Greeting of Peace, 

It is almost time for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. May it be a year of fulfilled promises for the good. Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, began on the eve of September 11. A quarter century prior, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York were destroyed by terrorists using US airliners to crash into the towers. Memories and memorials have continued to evolve, and with them, the continued adapataion to life's ever changing circumstances. All New Year celebrations mark the transition from past to future with hope for better times and intentions to find ways to bring the vision of a better future into reality. We share those hopes and recognize that indivudal efforts to bring about changes in the world begin with making improvements and changes in oneself and taking responsibility for actions done to others. 

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been finding its way in trying to deal effectively  with the Hamas extremests who took part in the attack on Israeli civilians and military in the area near the Gaza strip-- murdering, mutilating, raping and kidnapping children, women and men. Israel's fighting against an enemy heavily embedded in the civilian population makes for hard choices and mistakes that cost lives. The Israeli-Arab conflict actively involves the Hamas terrorists in the Gaza, the Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, the Iranians in Iran and the Houthis as well. Israel's standing is at an all time low, and this reality interferes with many people's openness to  a more nuanced understanding of the situation here. Sadly, all too many of the extremists in the government seek to sabotage opportunities for peace and for human compassion. They effectively burn many of the bridges that encouraged dialogue and understanding with so many of Israel's former supporters who cannot accept disregard for human rights and human lives as ideology. Is there hope for change? WIll the coming elections be held fairly and will the Israeli population choose wisely? Nothing is guaranteed. These are indeed dangerous times for people who seek a just and fair way forward for Israel and the Jewish people that respects both self and others.

The conflict has de-escalated, but the US and Israel military campaign against Iran and its proxies in the area was another convulsive period of violence. The bombardment of Israel by the Iranians, the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houtis in Yemen exacted a great emotional toll on the population. The people of Iran are not the enemy of Israel, while the regime there and its supporters are engaged in overt and covert war with Israel. My colleagues, students, clients, family and friends in Israel have all been affected by the attacks that interrupt life suddenly. The casualty toll is low, but the emotional cost of living under attacks is significant. As always, the young and the vulnerable suffer the most. What happens when the active military struggles cease remains the most pressing of questions. One can and should dare to hope for better times and better lives for all in the region. 

Virtually three  years after the massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023, all of the living hostages have been released and they and their families are dealing with the aftermath of their captivity. And all of the killed and murdered Israeli hostages have been returned for burial and their families and communities are continuing to deal with the aftermath and the enormity of their traumatic losses. An fragile end to the war in Gaza has been achieved. Many of the key provisions for moving forward remain vague and questions about their implementation remain. There is so much to be done and so many open questions about what could be done, and under what conditions-- that it is hard to be optimistic. But the end of the hostilities and the resumption of fuller aid to the residents of Gaza is terribly important. 

Israel has the right to defend itself and to protect its citizens from those actively pursuing sustained terror attacks on civilians and military personnel alike. There are other principles that require morally responsible actions by the Israeli government and military. The country needs to protect both it its own citizens as well as the Palestinian population in the areas that Israel controls. The tragedies of Gaza and Israel cry out for creative and humanitarian solutions.  

Last year, I wrote:

September 11, 2001, even after 24 years has passed, remains a painful and sobering chapter for citizens of the US and for many persons around the world. Those who lived through those days, and particularly those who lost loved ones in the attacks, can look back and bear witness to the changing meanings of the event and of the losses sustained as they continue to develop the narrative of their lives. While time alone does not heal all wounds, time does provide an important parameter that "allows" for wounds to heal and for both old and new elements of life to evolve. The dates proximity to the Jewish New Year seems fitting as well. What one is, what one was, and what one strives to be are solid components of the spirit of the  Jewish High Holidays. 

I wish all a Happy and Healthy New Year, with the hope for a better world. Hope is important, but working to make hope a reality makes a great deal of difference. 

Best wishes,

Simon Shimshon Rubin 

Additionally -- What I wrote months ago in the spring of 2025 is still relevant: The return of some of the living hostages together with bodies of some of those killed by the Hamas was a positive development for the people of Israel. The resumption of the military campaign is much more controversial. The Hamas stranglehold on the residents of Gaza continues to drive many of the decisions about the resumption of active warfare irrespective of the civilian populations vulnerability. Imagine if Hamas was actually willing to do what it takes to protect its own people by withdrawing its fighters so that reconstruction could begin in Gaza.  Perhaps the Summer of 2025 will become a time to renew hope for  the cessation of hostilities, the return of all the hostages, and the reconstruction that will allow Israeli citizens to return to their homes in the north and in the south. And on the subject of hope, I think it important to include hope for a better future for all the people in the region, with respect for diversity and concern for the basic human rights of all of us here.

The website has links to take you to various areas of interest. 

Best,

Simon Shimshon Rubin

PREVIOUS POSTS 

It is now over 15 months since the war began October 7, 2023 on "Black Saturday"  and the Shmini Atzeret holiday. Hamas and other terrorist groups crossed into Israel to kill, massacre, rape and kidnap Israeli civilians and members of the security forces. Over 1100 people were killed that day, and 250 were taken into the Gaza as hostages. Since that day, Israel's society has been sorely tested. Not only have a quarter of a million people been displaced from their homes and communities, but the inter-connectiveness of citizens in Israel means that the majority of the citizens here are either directly involved or have close family and friends whose lives have been shaken to the core by the events of the past year. The mounting toll on life, limb, mental health and treasure are extremely costly. Israeli society continues to be buffeted by the ongoing war and attacks from Hezbollah in the North and the ongoing war in the Gaza strip. 

Israel's response has seen the mobilization of a broad swathe of mental health practitioners and services to help the population cope with the trauma, loss and traumatic bereavements this war has brought home. In the first days and weeks of the war, the spontaneous mobilization of clinicians as volunteers provided much needed care. With time, more organized responses have come online, but the needs far exceed what is available. 

How to memorialize the events of October 7 is an opportunity for the country's citizens to revisit what happened, to make sense and give meaning to the events and their aftermath. It is also an opportunity to support the many circles of people whose lives have been upended in the past year. As in grief and mourning, no one size fits all, and there will be many venues, memorials and commemorative ceremonies live, in the media, and on social media. Private memorials for family and friends will mark the day as well. 

Securing the release of the remaining hostages, held in captivity in the warrens of the Gaza, weighs heavily on the Israeli populace. Breaking the cycle of violence must involve attention to the human needs of the people in the region.  Israel and her people must protect their Jewish and non-Jewish citizens and their country. And the search for a way forward to the benefit of all persons between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean remains a priority for Israel's future. Humanitarian aid and attention to the basic needs of the Gaza populace must also be taken into account. The situation is complex, but reason and common humanity must also be a factor in the military and political considerations. 

[Please note- the website of the International Laboratory for the Study of Loss, Bereavement and Human Resilience can be accessed for much additional information. We are working on making the site more user friendly-- but it will take a bit more time.]

The terrible events that took place in the Israeli towns, villages and roads near the Gaza strip were devastating for the citizens of Israel and for all who value human life. When I first wrote, 7 days had passed,  civilized persons around the world were reminded of the evil that men can do. Several updates later, we are now nearing four months following the terrible deeds that started the current war. I did not go into detail regarding the degree to which the terrorists associated with Hamas and the  Islamic Jihad movement treated their victims as means to seek revenge and promote terror rather than as children, women, elderly and young adults as people. The continuing missile attacks in the south and main population centers of Israel are designed to do damage to the sense of security of the citizens here. The ongoing attacks are psychologically   disruptive, but the physical damage they wreak are negligible. And compared to the executions, murders, rape, maiming and burning persons as well as the kidnapping of living and dead for transport to their strongholds in the Gaza, the continuing missile attacks indeed pale by comparison. The horrors that unfolded on Saturday, the Jewish holiday of Shmini Atzeret-Simchat Torah, have not been experienced by the Jewish people since the Holocaust in Europe. 

The air and ground attacks on Gaza are costly in human lives and suffering. It is both possible and necessary to care about the preservation of human life on both sides of this conflict. And it is critical to find a way forward with hope. 

Within Israel, grief and pain for those killed in the murderous attacks on civilians and soldiers who fell in combat during this still unfolding war, are connected to strong empathy for all those who have lost family and friends. The wounded in body and spirit are also deserving of our attention and care. Securing the hostages release is a national priority, as is freeing Israel from its status as hostage to the most extreme terrorist organizations. 

The overall response of the civilian population to come to the aid of their country and their countrymen has been astounding. The "start-up nation" indeed manages to get things done in ways and with alternatives that are creative and successful. In contrast to the government's and military's initially inadequate responses, the private sector has been taking the lead and responding to the needs without heed for expense. The scenes of Israeli's returning from vacations, work and study abroad, in order to come to the aid of their fellow citizens is heartening. 

As mental health professionals, many of us are part of the response to the events unfolding in real time. The degree to which clinicians from every discipline and level of experience are assisting the persons most directly affected by the horrible events that began a week ago is nothing short of amazing. 

Thank you to the people here and abroad, Jewish and not, who have responded with care and concern, to the plight of those who have lost family, homes, friends, and the life they had before Shmini Atzeret. May our shared humanity remain so. 

I close with a quotation from Chapter 4, Mishne 5, from tractate Sanhedrin: 

"לפיכך נברא אדם יחידי בעולם, ללמד שכל המאבד נפש אחת, מעלים עליו כאילו איבד עולם מלא; וכל המקיים נפש אחת, מעלים עליו כאילו קיים עולם מלא" 

Whoever destroys a single life is considered by Scripture to have destroyed the whole world, and whoever saves a single life is considered by Scripture to have saved the whole world. 

Shalom / שלום

Thank you,

Simon Shimshon Rubin

Below is the July opening page: 

July 2023

Welcome and Shalom: 

The coming of the summer marks the shift to a different balance of schedule and commitments. Updating my website is one of the things I have a chance to do.

A number of new publications are now available for the interested reader. Three of them are related to the Manevich, Rubin et al series connected to "The Two-Track Model of Dementia Grief and spousal response to illness and death."  Rubin, Malkinson & Witztum's comments on reactions to the new DSM-5TR Prolonged Grief Disorder diagnosis can be found in the correspondence section of the Lancet Psychiatry September issue. Besides new publications that are listed, the Two-Track Bereavement Questionnaire version 3 (TTBQ3-CG11) has been placed on the website with a short 11 item version. It is appropriate for deaths due to Corona as well as other causes. It can be found under publications. The Two-Track Bereavement Questionnaire – Complicated Grief 31 — TTBQ2-CG31 is available and yields 4 factors and a total score. The full TTBQ2-70 is useful for research and clinical applications.  Sensitive clinical work accompanied by careful documentation and measurement is a useful practice for organizations and clinics dealing with clients who have undergone loss. 

Best wishes,

Simon Shimshon Rubin

P.S. Scrolling down shows you earlier opening pages with relevant information.