Editor’s notes: Steven J. Stein

Welcome to the eighth edition of the AJP Schmooze newsletter.

This edition of Schmooze features a number of articles of interest for our members.

In the last issue, I mentioned the Refuat HaNefesh Psychologists’ Trauma Mission to Israel. This immersive and deeply meaningful journey was lovingly envisioned and carefully crafted by Ilene Serlin z”l. Originally scheduled for November 11–19, 2024, then rescheduled for June 17-24, the mission was to be offered through the stewardship of the American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA).

Well, once again, it was interrupted by the conflict. Unfortunately, just prior to the start of the mission, the war in Israel expanded and flights were cancelled. However, 8 of the participants, who arrived early, continued with a reconstructed version of the mission thanks to Michelle Stravitz, CEO of AJMA. Two participants made it to Europe when their Israel flights were cancelled. The rest of us were unable to leave at all as our flights never took off.

To learn more about this modified mission, there are articles featuring Jeff Saperstein, Ilene’s husband and Dana Strauss, one of the psychology graduate students who made the trip and participated in the mission.

Several years ago, together with Julie Ancis and a student named Daniel Balva, we wrote an article exposing the distortions and outright lies that were being espoused by the growing BDS movement. Well, I believe Daniel is no longer a student, and he continues to write very comprehensive, detailed and well-referenced articles. In the article referenced in this issue, he documents the abandonment of Jewish mental health professionals.

Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, has passed, but I wanted to include the poignant reflection on this day by Brian Levitt, which briefly appeared on the Ontario Psychology Listserv.

For decades, I have been concerned about the messaging we’ve seen around Jewish self-determination and the Jewish connection and indigeneity in Israel, especially compared to the counter forces that have been much more effective in propaganda. As psychologists and experts in communication and influence, we should be contributing more to getting our messaging out to the public. Toba Hellerstein has been writing and researching messaging and what makes for more effective communication. I’ve included one of her articles on why Israel activism fails. I’m currently working with Toba and others on developing and evaluating evidence-based messaging, including AI in the process. It’s important to understand what works and what doesn’t work from the perspective of the target of the message.

I’ve also included a recent article about the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), AEN (Academic Engagement Network), and PAAS (Psychologists Against Antisemitism) and their concern about a recent issue of the American Psychologist.

Recently, the Dinah Report, a comprehensive report about the sexual violence that took place during and following the October 7 attack, was released. It’s a piece of work that all psychologists should be made aware of. I’ve included a link to the full report for your reference.

Finally, if you are planning on attending the APA conference in Denver, please join us for the Shabbat candle lighting and two breakfasts being offered this year, where you’ll get to Schmooze with Executive and Board members of AJP and leaders of the APF Antisemitism Fund.

Hope to see you there.

Also, please send in any submissions you’d like to include in Schmooze to steven.stein@mhs.com.