Health In Her HUE’s Post

“Psychologist Paul Bloom argues that empathy is indeed a treacherous path, likening it to a spotlight that illuminates one individual, leaving others in the dark. According to Bloom, we are more likely to direct the spotlight of empathy toward those we perceive as more similar to us. This tendency plays a significant role in both parent-child bonding and the ugliest forms of racism. The light we shine on those we identify with and consider more deserving of our care casts a shadow on the suffering of others… In his book “Against Empathy” Bloom goes further to argue that empathy should not serve as a moral compass. Instead he advocates for compassion which goes beyond feeling another’s pain; and involves a deep sense of concern and a genuine desire to alleviate suffering.” #alterity #compassion #beyondempathy #nondualisticthinking

There is space for all when there is dialog & nonviolent interaction between the 80% non-radicals, this leads to mutual understanding & empathy. There is no need for two states with borders preventing such process. Living as equals will bring people together and break the circle of violence, establishing sustainable peace. www.pax.ngo https://lnkd.in/dxczCccB

When terrible things happen in the world, Highlights often focuses on supporting adults in conversations with their children. Currently, we are seeing an unacceptable rise of antisemitism here in the US and around the world. We also see an unacceptable rise in Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment and activity. This article describing how Jewish parents are speaking to their children helps show the horror and complexity of the situation and the humanity of people trying to parent through it. How we speak with children really matters. https://lnkd.in/g-F7aCwH

Antisemitism hits close to home – at work, online, and on campus. AJC’s latest report dives into how American Jews are affected by this hate every day. More here: https://lnkd.in/d6EREn4S

A great article written by Mushon Zer-Aviv that found the words to express the cognitive dissonance of feeling that we have to choose a side in this war. In his article, he openly illustrates the difficulty in empathizing simultaneously with both Israelis and Palestinians. A complexity rooted in human psychology, where empathy often acts like a spotlight, illuminating the suffering of those we identify with while casting others into the shadows. Is Empathy always the right way to go? While empathy focuses on sharing the feelings of others, it can be dangerously narrow and biased. In reference to psychologist Paul Bloom, Mushon suggests that compassion, which encompasses a broader, more inclusive concern for others' well-being, is a more suitable guide for moral action. The article also covers the common responses to the conflict and how they limit us from realizing a way forward. As an alternative, it suggests the "yes, and" approach which acknowledges the pain on both sides, advocating for understanding. One can ask if, in the current state of mind, we can step away from emotions to feel that level of compassion towards the other. Particularly, as so many people have been directly affected. Not to mention the Israeli hostages who are kept in terrifying conditions, and over a million Palestinians who left their homes and are living in unthinkable conditions. While we can condemn Hamas for that, I wonder how many people can truly feel compassion for all humans across borders. Nevertheless, this might be a painful read if you are personally grieving right now. Read with care. Same time, an important perspective.

I am a different parent now to how I used to be before October 7 and the subsequent rise in antisemitism. In this article I explored how I have changed and what battles I battle now on the home front. https://lnkd.in/gbYMxjT9

Powerful and heart breaking piece. Thanks for posting, Tejaswinhi (Tejas) Srinivas . Sadly, Tejas’ familiy’s experience is not unique. Like most Jewish families I know with school aged children in the public school system, our family has had to deal with similar targeting either from fellow students or even from teachers. The pedagogical duty that schools have toward students requires a high degree of trust and confidence by parents, which includes a trust in the administration to deal with such incidents swiftly and effectively. For our family, the trust in my kids’ school administration remains, but I would be lying if I said it has not been shaken and weakened. But for many Jewish parents, that trust is significantly corroded if it has not already completely fallen apart. The dehumanization and villanization of Israelis and Zionists has given many carte blanche to project their vitriol to the closest thing they perceive to be an embodiment of that evil. School age kids are just trying to figure the world out, but they parrot what they see online and at home. And in school, the closest target is that Jewish kid who went to Israel for March break, brings matzah in their lunchbox during Passover, or painted Stars of David as part of an art project. This is not about taking sides. It is about giving ALL children the opportunity to thrive and learn with their peers in a safe and supportive environment. So, if you are aware of a situation as described by Tejas or any similar story, reach out and see what you can do. Write a letter to your trustee. Call your principal. Say something at a parents council meeting. Do something.

Its Wednesday, August 7, 2024. And I am tired. Absolutely exhausted. Between the riots in the UK (absolutely sickening), the anti-Muslim hate, the anti-BIPOC hate, the antisemitism.... So. much. hate. So, in the midst of all the chaos, I offer this: 🎧 Escalating conflicts are not an EDI problem or a BIPOC problem. Its a ALL of us in society problem. An all of us problem means its not for the EDI community alone to solve. 🎧 Escalating conflicts are not just a religious problem. Or just a cultural problem. Or just a land problem. Or just a racial superiority problem. Or just a colonization problem. It is an identity problem. It is a belonging problem. It is a quest for meaning problem. It is a trauma problem. It is a sloppy allyship problem. It is an ALL of the above problem and needs to be looked at and transformed holistically. 🎧 In trauma learning we often reframe 'what is wrong with you' to 'what happened to you' - it is one of the most difficult things to do, particularly when both parties carry gutting traumas of their own. I watch the rioters across the oceans today and wonder 'what happened to you that makes you hate people who look like me so much?’ 🎧 In escalating conflicts, as you consume information, take a moment and give yourself permission to sit with the discomfort of not knowing for a bit. Give yourself permission to understand. To listen. To not jump here or there. Only you can reclaim that power in this ever polarizing world. 🎧 In escalating conflicts, be mindful of what you consume, how much of it you consume, how you share it, what spices you add to it, what you take from it. Every retelling of a story comes with the power to reframe. Know that power. Reframe responsibly. #identity #belonging #EDI #BIPOC #peacebuilding

Important words for right now. Stand up and speak out against antisemitism!

I really didn’t want to do this. I wanted to post one personal thing on LinkedIn a month ago and then go back to bland corporate pronouncements. But in the last 24 hours, in Montreal where my husband grew up, shots were fired at 2 elementary Jewish day schools, Jewish students @Concordia were threatened and assaulted for putting up a display about the hostages cruelly taken by Hamas, and a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a synagogue. This is just a microcosm of the hate against Jewish people for the last 32 days, even before Israel had started any type of operations in Gaza. I’m including a video from Concordia below, where a young person calls the Jewish student she is antagonizing a k*ke. For those of you who are blessedly ignorant of what this word means, it is the worst racial epithet you can call a Jew, akin to the very worst things you can say to other racial groups or minorities (which I will not be listing on LinkedIn or anywhere else). Let me be clear: You can criticize the government of Israel You can stand with Palestine You can criticize you government’s support for Israel You can march, rally and hold vigils for the people of Gaza You can do all of this without the antisemitism and demonization of Jews that we are seeing everywhere. You can do this in a way that doesn’t make my daughter afraid to go to university next year. You can do this in a way that demonstrates your humanity. Please tell me that we can agree that whatever this person was doing in Concordia (and the other behaviour I described above) is: (a)   Blatant and horrific antisemitism; and (b)   Not in any way going to help the Palestinian cause. It is a case of two wrongs make an even greater wrong. Please, please tell me that we can agree on this. Because if you support this kind of behaviour, even implicitly, then you are contributing not only to an assault on Jews but to the very destruction of the type of world you likely hold dear. History has shown us that hatred and persecution of Jews never – NEVER – ends with Jews anyway. If you don’t stand up for us, I hope there is somebody left to stand up for you when the time comes. https://lnkd.in/gEUBchft