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 1880-1942 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