Resource Category: Trauma

A traumatic event is a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience that affects someone emotionally. It does not have to involve physical harm, but it often does. The circumstances of the event do not determine whether it is traumatic; rather, how a person emotionally experiences the event does.

A traumatic event may be natural, like a hurricane, or caused by other people, like a crime or terror attack.It can be divorce, loss of a job,
a medical diagnosis, a death in the family, or another situation in which a person feels powerless. The more frightened and helpless someone
feels, the more likely they are to be traumatized by the event. One can sustain trauma by being present at the site of the event or witnessing it
from a distance.

It’s worth noting that children are especially vulnerable to trauma, and childhood trauma can have long-term effects—especially if a person
doesn’t receive treatment or support.

A Jewish Guide to Supporting Individuals Through Traumatic Death

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Guide for the Grieving: A Toolkit for Navigating Loss

Death is a natural occurrence, and it is a normal reaction to feel overwhelmed and confused when a loved one dies. This Guide for the Grieving is a resource for: reviewing descriptions of traditional Jewish ritual and mourning practices, navigating practical decisions and understanding the range of physical, mental, behavioral, and emotional responses one may experience following the death of a loved one.
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New Year, Same You

For decades, our culture has been focused on making some kind of “resolution” or change with the coming of the new calendar year. For some, this can be a helpful strategy to refocus and “get back on track.” But for others, it can add pressure to make unrealistic or unhealthy changes or become someone they are not.
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LINKS

Supports children and teens who have lost one or both parents by connecting them with peers and mentors who have been through the same experience.
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Mi Sheberach for Grief

When someone is ill or recovering from illness or an accident, we often recite a mi sheberach to wish them a refuah sheleimah, or a “full recovery.” We have expanded this prayer for those who are struggling with grief.
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