Trauma Is a Shared Burden — and a Society’s Responsibility
After October 7, something shifted across Jewish communities. The trauma of that day quickly went beyond Israel’s borders, landing in living rooms, synagogues, and schools around the world. Most Jews, no matter where they live, have friends and family living in Israel, and even if they don’t, there’s a deep emotional connection to our homeland.
In shock, we searched for the right words to explain the unthinkable and felt a new kind of fear settle in. Over the past 570+ days, it has become painfully clear: trauma doesn’t just stay in one place. It travels through families and communities and across generations and oceans. Healing must do the same — not as a solitary act, but as something shared.
Trauma should not happen in isolation. Resilience happens with practice and as a communal act. It happens with even the smallest gestures like a neighbor who checks in, the teacher who hears and listens, a community that continues to show up. We often talk about post-traumatic growth, and that takes place when society takes responsibility and acts. It’s about helping friends, family, and colleagues who are around the individual to understand, respond, and help them grow.
Supporting Circles and Communities for Growth
About 70% of people around the globe will go through a potential trauma during their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization. Although only 5.6% of people will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD rates are three times higher among those who experience war or other violent conflicts.
Before October 7, NATAL offered support groups for the spouses of individuals coping with PTSD, family therapy, and resiliency programs for communities. All communities have individuals coping with PTSD for various reasons, and resilience is the key to living alongside our trauma and learning to grow from it. By looking at the individual’s family, friends and community, we can work toward a healthy, thriving society.
Post-October 7, trauma is a shared reality, not just in Israel but also in terms of the collective trauma felt by Jews around the globe. This trauma has had no boundaries. We’ve all felt it at different levels, but it was felt across the board. Addressing trauma is a societal obligation, especially for those invested in the well-being of Israel and the Jewish diaspora. We’ve all lived under the “never again” concept our entire lives, and we know Israel is the Jewish homeland. American Jews have always supported the existence of the State of Israel, and the well-being of the Jewish society is a crucial component for the existence of the country.
How Individuals Can Become Community Leaders During Times of Trauma
Within minutes of the attack, NATAL shifted into emergency mode. After 27 years of experience treating trauma related to terror attacks and war, we were ready to receive victims and their families.
Because of long-standing relationships across Israel’s healthcare system, community groups and clinicians were able to adapt quickly with organizations like NATAL contributing tools and guidance honed over decades.
Through our partnership with the Israel Association of Community Centers (IACC), we established a career development unit to help October 7 survivors grow through their trauma and determine what sorts of jobs they can do as they learn to live alongside that trauma. This partnership also helped us identify lay leaders who could lead the way in healing their community. NATAL took them on a resiliency retreat outside Israel for a few days to provide them with the tools they need to triage members of their community and offer guidance in building resiliency in their community members.
NATAL will stay connected with these groups after the retreat to offer supervision and guidance along the way. This gives communities the ability to remember October 7 and grow from it. While the numbers are horrific, not everyone will develop PTSD, and early intervention addresses this problem and can even avoid it altogether.
Expression as Healing: Art Forms as Trauma Response
One way we can help others address trauma is through artistic expression. We’ve witnessed how music, dance, and visual arts become lifelines for survivors, soldiers, and first responders as they learn to live alongside their trauma. These creative outlets provide both comfort and processing mechanisms, enabling those affected by October 7 to acknowledge their trauma while celebrating life beyond that horrific event.
Take artist Tomer Peretz, who works directly with October 7 survivors and first responders, helping them express emotions through art. His exhibition “ART WILL S8T YOU FREE” features powerful collaborative works that transform pain into beauty. As a first responder himself at Kibbutz Be’eri—one of the hardest-hit areas—Peretz understands this healing journey personally.
I’ve also seen dance emerge as a powerful healing medium. When the Greater Miami Jewish Federation visited Vertigo Dance Company in Israel’s Elah Valley, they witnessed how movement therapy workshops help soldiers with PTSD reconnect with their bodies and process trauma. The documentary “We Will Dance Again” beautifully captures how creative expression enables survivors to reclaim their lives.
Our Collective Responsibility
I firmly believe the time to act is now. Trauma healing depends on all of us working together, supporting each other and encouraging growth. Charitable giving is also about taking action to build a healthier, stronger Jewish future through global trauma support. We never know when PTSD might strike. By investing in trauma care today, we create a more resilient, connected global Jewish community for tomorrow.