Valley Beit Midrash

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Igal Harmelin

Please note event times are listed in MT

ABOUT THE EVENT:

Jewish history carries centuries of persecution and displacement. That history doesn't stay in the past: it shows up in how we argue with each other, who we trust, what frightens us, and what we defend reflexively without asking why.

Since October 7th, these patterns have sharpened. The attack itself, and the wave of antisemitic violence that has followed, have not created this trauma — they've activated what was already there, often at a scale and intensity we haven't had to face directly in generations.

We will examine these patterns of collective trauma through two lenses: Jewish sources and current scientific understanding. We will explore whether healing is possible and what it would require.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Rabbi Igal Harmelin is a spiritual director, a meditation teacher, and a certified master practitioner of NARM, an advanced modality for healing attachment trauma. He is also certified as a Collective Trauma Facilitator by Thomas Hübl's Academy of Inner Science.

Rabbi Harmelin is spearheading the Trauma-Informed Spiritual Leadership Training for Jewish clergy and educators. The program equips Jewish spiritual leaders with greater ability to regulate themselves and their communities. Hosted by the ALEPH Ordination Program, this interdenominational program has gained the support of the Rabbinic Assembly and the Covenant Foundation.

He lives in New York City with his wife, Rabbi Lisa Goldstein.