I unpacked my bags and took a look off the balcony from my new apartment. I'm here in Tel Aviv, the secular Jewish city in the middle east. This place looks much less religious than my former residence in Jerusalem, and much more international. This is going to be quite different.
I have been in Israel for 5 months now. Last semester in Jerusalem, I worked in a Zoo, taking care of animals I love, and forging relationships with my fellow volunteers, zookeepers, and african animals in captivity. However, the entire time I felt as though I wasn't making a difference. While i took care of the animals on a daily basis--fed them, made sure they weren't sick, and cleaned up after them, I wasn't looking into any real problems in Israel and working to ameliorate them. However fun it was, it did not feel particularly profound.
I came to Tel Aviv wanting to do something that was worthwhile, something that could make a difference. For that reason I came to work at Natal.
Natal, the Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War, is an apolitical nonprofit organization, founded by the late Dr. Yossi Hadar, M.D. who conceived and initiated the idea, and Judith Yovel Recanati who serves as a Chairperson. NATAL was established in 1998 with the aim of increasing public awareness of National Psychotrauma caused by the Israeli-Arab conflict. This form of trauma differs from other forms, as it is the result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stemming from national traumas. When it was created initially, the organization sought to help former and current soldiers deal with the harsh realities of the constant war in which they live. However, after the second intifada in 2000, its role became much wider. Adult men and women, teenagers, children, mothers and fathers became victims of terrorism, and many of them consequently suffered from a kind of shell shock, whether directly being connected to the terrorist attacks, or indirectly through a family member. This lasting psychological trauma that comes as a result of a terrorizing event has come to be known by proffesionals as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Post Traumatic Stress disorder is a terrible disease--something I have a lot to learn about. My experience in it is slim, but i think that by working at NATAL I will become more acquainted with it, and how it affects Israeli society as well as mine. Sadly, it is a reality that exists in all societies. It must be confronted, and learning about it is the first step.
Israel is unique in its relationship with PTSD, because everyone deals with PTSD one way or another, either directly from an attack or war, or indirectly because a family member or friend deals with it. Israel lives in constant fear of its enemies and a continual threat of terrorism. In a way, PTSD is a national disease here in Israel.
I came to Israel to learn about this place, the culture, and the problems confronting it. Israel is in conflict, I'm not sure how much I can personally do to combat the very difficult situation between Arabs and Israelis, but what I can do is work to understand the disease that exists on both sides as a result of the conflict, what can be done to confront it, and how learning about PTSD can help confront the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--something which I have come to learn is more confusing and convluted than any I have ever known . Signing up for my job is the first step. The next is to realize its potential.
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I have been in Israel for 5 months now. Last semester in Jerusalem, I worked in a Zoo, taking care of animals I love, and forging relationships with my fellow volunteers, zookeepers, and african animals in captivity. However, the entire time I felt as though I wasn't making a difference. While i took care of the animals on a daily basis--fed them, made sure they weren't sick, and cleaned up after them, I wasn't looking into any real problems in Israel and working to ameliorate them. However fun it was, it did not feel particularly profound.
I came to Tel Aviv wanting to do something that was worthwhile, something that could make a difference. For that reason I came to work at Natal.
Natal, the Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War, is an apolitical nonprofit organization, founded by the late Dr. Yossi Hadar, M.D. who conceived and initiated the idea, and Judith Yovel Recanati who serves as a Chairperson. NATAL was established in 1998 with the aim of increasing public awareness of National Psychotrauma caused by the Israeli-Arab conflict. This form of trauma differs from other forms, as it is the result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stemming from national traumas. When it was created initially, the organization sought to help former and current soldiers deal with the harsh realities of the constant war in which they live. However, after the second intifada in 2000, its role became much wider. Adult men and women, teenagers, children, mothers and fathers became victims of terrorism, and many of them consequently suffered from a kind of shell shock, whether directly being connected to the terrorist attacks, or indirectly through a family member. This lasting psychological trauma that comes as a result of a terrorizing event has come to be known by proffesionals as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Post Traumatic Stress disorder is a terrible disease--something I have a lot to learn about. My experience in it is slim, but i think that by working at NATAL I will become more acquainted with it, and how it affects Israeli society as well as mine. Sadly, it is a reality that exists in all societies. It must be confronted, and learning about it is the first step.
Israel is unique in its relationship with PTSD, because everyone deals with PTSD one way or another, either directly from an attack or war, or indirectly because a family member or friend deals with it. Israel lives in constant fear of its enemies and a continual threat of terrorism. In a way, PTSD is a national disease here in Israel.
I came to Israel to learn about this place, the culture, and the problems confronting it. Israel is in conflict, I'm not sure how much I can personally do to combat the very difficult situation between Arabs and Israelis, but what I can do is work to understand the disease that exists on both sides as a result of the conflict, what can be done to confront it, and how learning about PTSD can help confront the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--something which I have come to learn is more confusing and convluted than any I have ever known . Signing up for my job is the first step. The next is to realize its potential.
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