Posts

On the Eve of Yom Kippur — Reflections on the Illusions of Knowing and Not Knowing, on Atonement and Seeking Forgiveness

The traditional Yom Kippur calls for repair through acknowledgement of wrongdoing and the seeking of forgiveness, yet the prevailing culture erects a screen of denial and concealment that enables the projection of sin onto "the enemy" as a defence against unbearable truth. The psychological illusions that allow Israelis to simultaneously know and not know about documented war crimes and testimonial voices — and the attacks and persecution directed at those who expose reality — reveal a psychological defence mechanism that prevents the Israeli Jewish community from absorbing the truth as part of its path towards change and healing. Our duty as therapists and welfare professionals is to call for conscious witnessing, in the service of genuine change and repair.

Teaser for Our Study Day

"Silence is a Crime" calls on the mental-health professions to stop silencing themselves in times of violence and destruction. A study day on 25 June 2026 will examine the mechanisms that silence us, the ethics of care in times of crisis, and will present examples of practitioners in the field who are turning silence into action. Join us to re-examine our role and find a path from paralysis to hope.

ליאור בירן

Webinar- How do we confront a past that does not pass? The Palestinian psyche facing the continuous Nakba

This webinar examines the psychological toll of the Nakba as an ongoing trauma rather than a historical event, exploring how collective Palestinian suffering persists when the past cannot be processed into memory but remains a continuous present of displacement and dispossession. Through liberation-oriented psychological analysis, the forum addresses the distinct mental health challenges faced by Palestinians living under conditions of perpetual threat to their existence and rights. The recording is available for those unable to attend, and the forum invites continued participation in its critical work of breaking silence around these structural violences.

ליאור בירן

From Silencing to Action — From Paralysis to Hope

Israeli mental health professionals are convening for a critical study day to confront their professional responsibility during times of dehumanization and violence, moving beyond the paralyzing silence that has compromised clinical discourse. The event will examine the non-neutrality of silence, explore psychoanalytic and ethical dimensions of complicity, and equip professionals with practical tools for activism and testimony. Mental health workers are called to end their silence and act as agents of accountability both within and beyond the consulting room.

ליאור בירן

Eternal darkness

In just 10 minutes."Eternal darkness".357 killed.1,150 wounded.This is not what safety looks like.Condemn the massacre in Lebanon!Object to the bombing and killing!Humans are humans!Silence is a crime

City of Slaughter

[Bialik, Hayim Nahman. On the Slaughter (p. 30). (Function). Kindle Edition. ]Get up and go to the city of slaughter and come to the yardsand see with your own eyes and run your hands along the fencesand trees and stones, and across the walls’ plaster,and touch the dried blood and stiJened tissue spilled from skulls … להמשך קריאה

Yossi Triest

Regarding the Pain of Others and Our Own Actions

It is difficult to say “good evening” now. Even our beautiful word of greeting—shalom—catches in the throat.So I will begin with thanks. Thanks to the participants, to everyone who opened Zoom this evening with a willingness to open their eyes, and to open their hearts and minds to what is unbearable. Today’s conversation is also … להמשך קריאה

Hagit Aharoni

They Who Guards Their Soul Will Draw Near

This essay was born out of an ongoing experience of daily, unceasing contact with the human intolerable, and with the edges of what can be contained under the title “human.” It is customary to think of the intolerable as that which, by its very nature, challenges thought and language. What words can be given to … להמשך קריאה

Dana Amir

Let's Talk About the West Bank – And Not Just That

I formed my political worldview already in my youth—around the Friday table, in the need to confront and separate from my father, who held firm right-wing views.My activism, and my identity as a human rights activist, took shape over the past six years, through a process of becoming an elder—a shift from an individual to … להמשך קריאה

Adi Argov

They Who Guards Their Soul Will Draw Near – Webinar recording

On March 30th, the psychoanalytic institutes held the webinar: "He Who Guards His Soul Shall Draw Near" – focusing on the violence in the West Bank. The webinar featured members of the Israel Psychoanalytic Society, alongside members of the "Silence is a Crime" forum. The participants: (By clicking on the links, you can read the … להמשך קריאה

Nothing is okay at all

Home Demolition

*Photo: Khirbet Ma'arjam. Duma. 23.3.26 I think of the hundreds of thousands of destroyed, abandoned, shattered homes — in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Iran, Israel, and the West Bank.Inside each home: toys, photo albums, bed sheets still carrying the scent of love, damp towels from the last shower, pots left on the stove, handprints on … להמשך קריאה

Tova Buksbaum