Event Details

For the first time in the history of the State of Israel, children were held hostage by a terrorist organisation. When an unprecedented event occurs, neither the authorities, experts, nor decision-makers are fully equipped to handle it. This was particularly challenging when over 40 children were abducted, with some losing family members and others even losing friends of their own age. How did the authorities and the army eventually prepare for the release of the children after more than 50 days in captivity?

In a special webinar "Treating the Trauma Victims of Hamas (HU Webinar)" that took place on Thursday, 18th January 2024, Professor Asher Ben-Arieh, Dean of the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare and Professor Ofrit Shapira-Berman from the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work discussed how the Hebrew University and the Haruv Institute – a leading organisation in Israel, and among the leaders in the world, for training and engaging in research to help children suffering from abuse and neglect - assisted the Israeli government and the IDF in preparing a framework for the rehabilitation of the children who have returned from captivity, emphasising the importance of trauma treatment from the early days.

ESTEEMED PRESENTERS:

PROFESSOR ASHER BEN-ARIEH, Dean of the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, holds the Haruv Chair for the Study of Child Maltreatment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he is a Professor of Social Work. He has published extensively on children’s well-being, with a concentration on the indicators of children's well-being and child maltreatment. He is also the founding editor-in-chief of the Child Indicators Research Journal and the Child Well-Being: Indicators and Research book series. Currently, Prof Ben-Arieh is one of the principal investigators of the International Study of Children’s Well-being research project.

PROFESSOR OFRIT SHAPIRA-BERMAN from the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work is a trained psychoanalyst and an expert in the long-term treatment of complex trauma with over 30 years of experience. In 2022, she authored the book Psychoanalysis and Maternal Absence: From the Traumatic to Faith and Trust. Currently, Prof Shapira-Berman is heading the mental health department at First Line Med—a medical and therapeutic organization for the victims of October 7th and their families. In recent months, she has been featured across media outlets, both internationally and in Israel. From broadcast interviews with Katie Couric and CNN, to contributions to Time magazine and The Times of Israel, her expertise has been highly sought and regarded.

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