Lessons Learned Supporting Holocaust Survivors During COVID

Dr. Yonit Hoffman 
Director of Holocaust Community Services (HCS) at CJE SeniorLife in Chicago, Illinois - IL, United States

Dr. Yonit Hoffman will share the challenges, lessons learned, and the “silver linings” encountered in providing trauma-informed support to nearly 2,000 survivors in the Chicago community during the pandemic.

The special vulnerabilities, physical and mental health implications, and enduring resilience of survivors will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their own experiences, and, together, prepare for the months ahead.

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Dr. Yonit Hoffman is the Director of Holocaust Community Services (HCS) at CJE SeniorLife in Chicago, IL. She oversees all program development and service provision for nearly 2,000 Holocaust survivors, supervises clinical, care management and administrative staff, and provides direct services and support groups for survivors and their families.  She has served as a key facilitator in establishing partnerships to build resources and capacity to support survivors.  Dr. Hoffman has conducted community and national education for professionals, lay leaders and caregivers on person-centered, trauma-informed care and the special needs of aging Holocaust survivors.  Dr. Hoffman received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Case Western Reserve University, and her prior clinical work centered on trauma, loss and under-served populations in Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.  Her clinical research included studies on resilience and identity in Holocaust survivors and their descendants, which she has presented both nationally and internationally. Dr. Hoffman is a second and third generation descendant of Holocaust survivors and victims.

Dad I'm not feeling very well today
2nd Generation

Moshe Teller

Art Therapist

Holocaust Survivors Centre, Jewish Care

London,  United Kingdom

Rachelle Lazarus

Service Manager

Holocaust Survivors Centre, Jewish Care

London,  United Kingdom

As the survivor parents are sadly passing away, many of their offspring are facing a most critical and challenging phase in their lives.

Many ask themselves fundamental  and difficult questions which may never be answered unless a more proactive approach is taken:

Have I/ we achieved and done enough in my/ our parent/s’ eyes? 

Is there more expected of me whilst still around and after they have gone? 

The offspring of a parent survivor is not just the next generation, but the undeniable proof that Hitler did not win!

This for quite a number carries an enormous responsibility and a burden.

What is the legacy bestowed upon this generation and how to carry it forwards?

Has the offspring acquired enough tools, physical and the emotional resilience to take this inheritance forward and pass it on to the next generations? 

The none verbal painful legacy which the offspring is expected to absorb, know and carry, forms an integral part of their identity.

The story of our parents.

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Moshe Teller

Moshe has been an extremely appreciated speaker from all our seminars on dealing with care of Shoah Survivors.

Orginary from Chile, studied in Israel and UK and now works in the Holocaust Survivors Centre of Jewish Care UK as An Art Therapist And Specialist .

He Studied Art In Israel And England. Since 1988 He Has Been Working In The Area Of Care Focusing On Mental Health And The Holocaust.

Rachelle Lazarus
Rachelle Lazarus is current the Holocaust Survivors Services Manager at the Holocaust Survivor Centre, which is part of Jewish Care.  The Holocaust Survivor’s Centre is a social and therapeutic service for the Survivor Community of London.  Prior to her work at Jewish Care, she worked at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Los Angeles, managing their Volunteer programme.  She also worked at the Survivors’ of the Shoah Visual History Foundation managing both their volunteer team and helpline.