46 | OCTOBER 19 • 2023 J
N

A

s the Israeli 
death toll 
following 
the unprecedented 
attack from Hamas 
continues to rise, the 
Metro Detroit Jewish 
community is grappling 
with the effects of the 
crisis.
On Oct. 7 alone, 
more than 1,300 
soldiers and civilians were killed, 
a dark day that many say is the 
largest number of Jews killed in a 
single day since the Holocaust.
For many, the trauma of what 
has now been declared an “all-out 
war” ripples back home. Many 
Metro Detroiters have close ties 
to Israel, including family and 
friends living there or simply a 
strong emotional connection to 
the Jewish homeland.
Others are frightened, 
wondering how antisemitism will 
impact them back home. Some 
report being scared to wear their 
Magen David necklace in public.

LAYERS OF TRAUMA
As the crisis continues and is 
expected to be a long, drawn-out 
conflict, many Metro Detroit 
Jews are wondering how to cope.

Lynn Breuer, senior 
director of community 
outreach and wellness 
at Jewish Family Service 
of Metro Detroit, who 
is one of the agency’s 
heads of the crisis unit, 
says it’s normal and 
expected to be feeling 
both physical and 
emotional effects of the 
ongoing war.
“Many of us in the Metro 
Detroit community have close 
ties to Israel,
” she says. “Even 
though we’re here watching 
these horrifying events from the 
relative safety of our own homes 
and workplaces, our brains 
and bodies respond as if it’s 
happening right here.
”
What happens, Breuer 
explains, is that our central 
nervous system kicks in, “and it 
feels very overwhelming.
” People 
may experience a wide variety 
of symptoms from witnessing 
this kind of trauma, including 
uncontrollable crying, trouble 
sleeping or oversleeping, feeling 
overwhelmed or fidgety, or being 
easily irritated.
“These are all signs of an acute 
stress reaction or reaction to the 
trauma,
” Breuer says.

Breuer says this trauma comes 
in many forms and has many 
complicated layers.
Of course, there’s the 
trauma of simply witnessing 
what is happening as a Jewish 
individual. Then, there are those 
who have escaped generations of 
religious persecution, including 
Soviet Jews and/or Holocaust 
survivors.
The most recent layer, she says, 
is the many refugees who have 
fled the Ukraine-Russia war, only 
to resettle in Israel and face yet 
another crisis.
Pair this with the recent 
COVID-19 pandemic and 
general unrest in the world, and 
you have a recipe for nonstop 
trauma that many people are 
struggling to cope with.

WAYS TO COPE
As thousands packed 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek on 
Oct. 9 to show their support for 
Israel, the feeling of solidarity 
amongst the local Jewish 
community was clear.
Now, as many people continue 
to look for additional ways to 
cope, Breuer shares 10 steps 
Metro Detroiters can take to 
support their physical and mental 
health during this time.

STEP 1: BE GENTLE WITH 
YOURSELF
“If you need a bit of extra time in 
the day or in the morning, that’s 
OK,
” Breuer says. This includes 
taking a few minutes to do 
something you love, like reading 
a book.

STEP 2: UNDERSTAND 
WHERE YOUR REACTIONS 
ARE COMING FROM
“They’re a completely normal 
response to a completely 
abnormal situation,
” Breuer 
explains. Sometimes, people 
can feel like there is something 
wrong with them for reacting 
so strongly, but she cautions 
these feelings are typical trauma 
reactions.

STEP 3: KNOW WE ALL 
REACT DIFFERENTLY TO 
STRESS
Breuer says there’s a vast range of 
normal responses. Some people 
may have stronger responses, like 
not being able to function at all 
or get out of bed, while others 
may feel angry or outraged. 
“
Allow space for others to 
respond differently,
” Breuer says.

STEP 4: USE TECHNIQUES 
TO COMBAT YOUR 
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Practicing mindfulness and using 
breathing techniques (such as 
square breathing or alternate 
nostril breathing, which you can 
find demonstrations for online) 
can help reduce stress response 
and feelings of anxiety, she says.

STEP 5: LIMIT YOUR 
EXPOSURE TO THE NEWS 
AND SOCIAL MEDIA
It can be easy to leave CNN or 
Fox News on all day. Looking 
away from the trauma is often 
easier said than done. Still, 
Breuer cautions the importance 
of limiting your time doing so.
“It’s important to be informed, 
but continuously bombarding 
our senses with horrifying 
imagery and terrifying words 
will cause your central nervous 
system to respond in ways that 
limit your ability to care for 
yourself and others,
” she explains.

STEP 6: DRAW ON YOUR 
OWN INNER STRENGTH
We’re all resilient, Breuer says. 
The key is tapping into that 
strength and using it. “What has 
helped you get through tough 
times in the past?” she asks 
people to consider. “Those same 
coping skills can help you now.
”

STEP 7: GET INVOLVED IF 
YOU CAN
Many might be wondering how 
to help the Israel crisis from 
Michigan. Breuer says this is a 
two-pronged approach. First, you 
can donate money to Israeli relief 

OUR COMMUNITY

Crisis expert shares 10 strategies for 
your physical and mental health.

10 Ways
to Cope 
 with the 
Israel Crisis

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lynn Breuer

