It is very reassuring to know that the present situation in Israel is better than the portrayal in the American media. However, I just want to emphasize that because there is a discrepancy between what may be politically real in Israel and how Americans may perceive it, that the perception is real as well-- especially when it comes to addressing children's fears. If my son can articulate his fears, there may be so many more students who cannot. If my son, a high school student in New York feels scarred, perhaps, as educators, we should be concerned of perceptions among many yeshiva and seminary students presently studying in Israel? My point is that the feelings are raw, both here and abroad, what can we do as educators to proactively address these fears and anxieties? Telling someone not to worry has been shown to only induce more psychological discomfort. I invite educators to proactively develop a plan/ plans that can address such fears. In my first post, my husband and I suggested a few ideas. I hope to further engage with others. Having such discussion, connecting to others during this critical time, alleviates some of my own discomfort.
