CHAPTER 20 COUNSELING JEWISH AMERICANS

Jewish Americans  Jewish Americans have long been the targets of discrimination and hate crimes  Anti-semitism is on the rise in Israel  The Jewish population in the U.S. is the largest in the world  Many Jewish people immigrated from Russia, Austria-Hungary and Romania between  Of the Jews outside the U.S., most are from the former Soviet Union  The Jewish population is falling rapidly due to low fertility and “marrying out”  Most do not follow all religious traditions, but celebrate holidays such as Yom Kippur, Hanukah, and Passover

Experiences with Prejudice and Discrimination  The Holocaust killed over 6 million Jews and left many people poor, displaced, and without families  Jewish hate crimes are on the rise  May Jewish people fought for civil rights for people of color in the 1960’s  Holocaust deniers are individuals who do not acknowledge or who question the existence of the genocide that occurred during the Holocaust  Some Jews experience guilt for not practicing traditional Jewish customs  For many, a Jewish identity centers around a common experience and history

Judaism  The belief in one omnipotent God who created humankind—one of the earliest monotheistic religions  Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is a time set aside to atone for sins during the past year  The synagogue is a place of worship  There are many forms of Judaism ranging from more conservative (e.g. Orthodox) to progressive

Implications  As a counselor, it is important to be aware of the Jewish identity as well as experiences of discrimination and harassment  Many organizations still do not acknowledge Jewish holidays in the same way as Christian holidays  Become aware of your own biases and assumptions about Jewish people