Rabbi Maor Greene, associate chaplain for Jewish Life, spoke with WUNC 91.5’s Due South about the psychological impacts of the war in the Middle East on students on December 7, 2023.
During a recent segment, “Finding Solace Amidst Grifef, local Communities Grapple with Mental Health Impacts of War,” on WUNC 91.5’s Due South, co-host Jeff Tiberii spoke with Rabbi Maor Greene, associate chaplain for Jewish Life at Elon.
In their remarks, Greene broke down the landscape of how the war in the Middle East is psychologically impacting students, uncovering the history of the generational concern of Jewish-identifying students. Additionally, they shared their connection to the situation and how they are navigating the social climate due to the war, similar to the students.
From the segment:
I think the attacks on Oct. 7 have brought up a major fear of a more severe antisemitism incident that, in my mind, is informed by intergenerational trauma. A lot of the students may be the great-grandchildren of Holocaust survivors.
There is an increase in antisemitic rhetoric, and that might translate into action. There’s an understanding, illuminated by intergenerational trauma, that what happened in Pittsburg could happen at any synagogue, day school, Hillel, Jewish college, or campus. It could happen anywhere, including at Elon. We are aware of that. It’s there.
Tiberii also spoke with Baseer Maroof, who provides mental health coping strategies to Islamic community organizations.
Listen to the full segment to learn more.