Dear Neighbors, far and near,
I am deeply grateful to all of the eminent members of this august group, Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem especially the His Eminence Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, for your powerfully humanitarian, eloquent, succinct memorandum on the escalating Humanitarian Crisis issued on 10 13 23. I wholeheartedly endorse the full memorandum, particularly these propositions.
“…We call upon the State of Israel, with the support of the International Community, to allow humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza so that the thousands of innocent civilians may receive medical treatment and basic supplies. Moreover, we call upon all parties to de-escalate this war to save innocent lives while still serving the cause of justice.
Finally, in support of all those who have suffered in this war and of the families reeling from the violence, we call upon the people of our congregations and all those of goodwill around the world to observe a Day of Prayer and Fasting on Tuesday, October 17th.
There is yet time to stop the hatred. “
I plan to dedicate Tuesday Oct 17 as day of even more time spent in Prayer and avoid expanding my usually abstemious servings of food consisting of Fruits vegetables, Almond Yogurt, whole grain, and a Protein Source.
We live in dreadful times with graphic images of unspeakable horror on News Channels and especially Instagram, Tik Tok and X which can repeatedly reinforce traumatizing images and associations. It may be prudent for parents in all communities including the ones who are connected to Mx Health to block these platforms for their minor family members and even elders who have experienced similar trauma in various contexts in serving in the military and rescuers in Forest Fire situations and places like Lahaina. Prevention is much more advantageous in managing our exposure to streaming sources of disturbing, distressing deeply abhorrent images from War Zone that experiencing the consequences the impact of the Stress induced by constant or frequent exposure. This report: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/14/health/mental-health-israel-hamas-wellness/index.html offers valuable information from the American Psychological Association and Prof Gail Salz of NYPH/Cornell-Weill Med. College. “And this is the problem people are having now. They see something; it’s horrific — it’s beyond the usual human experience of seeing human-to-human violence — in such a way, and it intrudes in their mind such that they can’t concentrate at work, such that they can’t fall asleep at night. And it’s distressing. And that causes an overall arousal in the brain and then in the body,” she said.
“This recent ability to see these terrible visual images — which is really unlike 10 years ago, 20 years ago — and to have them be a constant feed, constantly available, I think is really harmful, particularly for children but also for adolescents and also for adults,” she pointed out.
The American Psychological Association released a statement this week warning that consuming violent and traumatic news can in and of itself negatively affect our mental health. This is taking a toll on all of us, including our children.
“Psychological science tells us that fear, anxiety and traumatic stress have long-term effects on health and well-being. These impacts are also being felt by people around the world who have families and friends in the region, as well as those concerned about the effects of war everywhere,” it says.
This link offers from WebMD very clear accurate information about types, sources, physical and emotional symptoms as well as useful strategies to manage the sources and mitigate the experience of stress. They also offer the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255[TALK]. It is not necessary to dial this 10-digit number. This call is routed to 988. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | SAMHSA Since July 2022 you can text or dial 988 which provides a direct link to trained persons who can afford anonymous and confidential assistance during a crisis. They can also offer a Tool Kit for carers. This link offers useful information that can help in these very stressful and traumatizing times.
I am sharing a link to the statement issued promptly by my APA. "Psychiatry.org - American Psychiatric Association Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Israel" I expect that these attacks, killings, burnings of humans and forcible separations and abductions will cause severe emotional, psychological, medical consequences besides awesome social and community disruptions. I am interested to receive information on resources the AMA has approved for engaging and managing these consequences of the long-term overhang of extreme Traumatic experiences.
The Charter of Hamas from 2006 clearly articulates their aspirational goal of ridding the land between the River and the Sea of Non-Muslims: A close reading of Hamas’ charter, which was created in 1987 and revised in 2017, explains a lot about its decision to slaughter innocent Jewish civilians, and unleash a reaction that has inevitably claimed innocent Palestinian lives as well.
The first version of the charter, adopted in 1988, begins with a preamble. Only instead of “We-the-People,” it reads:
Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.”
Documents found on the Terrorists clearly set out the specific goals of the operations of the Military Brigades of Hamas that are consistent with achieving the goals of the Charter by killing, abducting Jewish people and terrorize the inhabitants of the villages adjacent to Gaza, perhaps to abandon these sites.
There is much to be done after cessation of the Hot devastating War with incalculable losses through the next several generations. The reparative, ameliorative, and restorative work involved in the process of experiencing healing must begin now at many levels with individuals, communities in a concerted thoughtful manner with due diligence and care. The AMA and AMA working together can make major contributions in the process of conflict mitigation and resolution as well as establish the infrastructure of Healers in both groups of siblings Muslim and Jewish in the Global Human family who are all, every single person a child of God, bar none.
These links offer independent confirmation that individual Hamas soldiers implemented their tasks:
Golan’s Story - The New York Times (nytimes.com) A fathers account of survival in the Kibbutz
Israeli-American teenager speaks out after his parents were killed in a Hamas attack | CNN Israeli-American teenager who was shot in a Hamas attack that killed his parents tells he will keep the bullet in memory of their lives
I am offering these resources to some persons in need and those who are in a position to offer assistance in situ while memories are fresh and sounds and images are still reverberating all around; Emotional Support and Health Promotion resources (velandymanoharmd.com). This link also includes my perspectives.
I am attaching my response to these especially brutal gruesome assaults on human beings in the border towns of Israel along Gaza and huge loss of life among our brothers and sisters in Israel and in Gaza which is likely to continue for indeterminable period. Based on several reports and my own reactions I would want Instagram, Tik Tok and X platforms be blocked on Smartphones in the hands of Minors because these images can cause great and possibly lasting harm to their ideas on their own lives and perceptions of the world around them and the risk of sudden and catastrophic disruptions of their own lives and perhaps being carried away and harmed or their loved ones being harmed. It may also be advisable for older person who may recollections or connection to such horrendous operations during the systematic implementation of the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question” after the Wannsee conference of Jan 1942 or their relatives to try to block these potential retraumatizing memories. There is a phenomenon of Primal Dread that can appear to be dormant but can be awakened and rekindled much too easily by such graphic imagery.
We live in dreadful times with graphic images of unspeakable horror on News Channels and especially Instagram, Tik Tok and X which can repeatedly reinforce traumatizing images and associations. It may be prudent for parents in all communities to block these platforms for their minor family members and even elders who have experienced similar trauma in various contexts in serving in the military and rescuers in Forest Fire situations and places like Lahaina. Prevention is much more advantageous in managing our exposure to streaming sources of disturbing, distressing deeply abhorrent images from War Zone that experiencing the consequences the impact of the Stress induced by constant or frequent exposure. This report: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/14/health/mental-health-israel-hamas-wellness/index.html offers valuable information from the American Psychological Association and Prof Gail Salz of NYPH/Cornell-Weill Med. College. “And this is the problem people are having now. They see something; it’s horrific — it’s beyond the usual human experience of seeing human-to-human violence — in such a way, and it intrudes in their mind such that they can’t concentrate at work, such that they can’t fall asleep at night. And it’s distressing. And that causes an overall arousal in the brain and then in the body,” she said.
“This recent ability to see these terrible visual images — which is really unlike 10 years ago, 20 years ago — and to have them be a constant feed, constantly available, I think is really harmful, particularly for children but also for adolescents and also for adults,” she pointed out.
The American Psychological Association released a statement this week warning that consuming violent and traumatic news can in and of itself negatively affect our mental health. this is taking a toll on all of us, including our children.
“Psychological science tells us that fear, anxiety and traumatic stress have long-term effects on health and well-being. These impacts are also being felt by people around the world who have families and friends in the region, as well as those concerned about the effects of war everywhere,” it says.
This link offers from WebMD very clear accurate information about types, sources, physical and emotional symptoms as well as useful strategies to manage the sources and mitigate the experience stress.
I am grieving for the traumatized members of all the groups of siblings of Ishmael and Isaac. May God have mercy on us. May God constrain us all from our own malfeasance.
Please feel free to use any of the materials and do share as you see fit. May people of Gaza and of Israel whether they are Muslims, Christians or Jews be regarded with equivalent order of Humanity in the Spirit of Abrahamic Accords and all out efforts are on engaging with and addressing faithfully and diligently the needs of the children of Isaac and Ishmael are addressed urgently and equitably immediately. Then Peace can prevail in all the three domains, within- mind, body, and soul and without in the waters, in the vastness of our planet and in the limitless spaces surrounding us. Velandy Manohar, MD. Website: velandymanoharmd.com
I am sharing some important resources about Organizations that can help to manage Population wide health challenges as well educate care givers both professionally prepared clinicians and Primary care practitioners, Para- professional clinicians and family members and community volunteers.
After taking account of the events that have transpired in the area during the week, I am offering contact information on two Major organizations who can help by offering expert consultation and very thorough training and in the case of CMBM they are able to provide direct care in very tumultuous and hazardous locales in the world including GAZA and with active duty Service members during OIF and OEF.
- Center for Mind Body Medicine. Home - CMBM Dr. James Gordon, MD. Founder and CEO, Lynda Richtsmeier Cyr, PhD, LP at CMBM have trained and provided treatment services at a population level and on individual basis. Their staff have trained and delivered services in many parts of the world where major conflicts have played out. Dr. James Gordon, MD, Founder and CEO of CMBM wrote this book in 2019: The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma. The book is on his recommendations to heal depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma for those who are confronted by tragedy and trauma and reviews his work with traumatized children and families in Bosnia, Post 9-11 NYC, Parkland, TX school were children were held as hostages and killed, active-duty Military and Veterans. In his first book: “Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey out of Depression” Dr. Gordon, MD offers a practical and effective way to get Unstuck when you are mired in despondency. Drawing on 40 years of pioneering work, Unstuck is Gordon's seven-stage program for relief through food and nutritional supplements, Chinese medicine; movement, exercise, and dance; psychotherapy, meditation, and guided imagery; and spiritual practice. The result is a remarkable guide that puts the power to change in the hands of those ready to say "no" to suffering and drugs and "yes" to hope and happiness. They could engage with, identify and address the challenges that persons in uniform and civilians of all ages in Gaza and Israel directly. He and his team have been there and in places like this e.g., Bosnia, and service members who served in OIF and OEF.
- Contact Us - NICABM National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine. They offer well-designed instructive, helpful courses and students can have access to stellar faculty on Trauma. They provide great training and data sheets with graphics that can help patients to work on specific strategies during therapy. This is a sample of their renowned experts Bessel van der Kolk, MD Judith Herman, MD and colleagues. They may be able to design based on needs and resources to train staff in Gaza and Israel to engage, care for and provide effective treatment acutely and overtime for civilians of all ages as well as those in Uniform, the bereaved family members of the heroic fallen or wounded survivors with traumatic experiences.
Besides the issues with trauma and PTSD and perhaps blast related invisible wounds inflicted in persons with MH Challenges, in both Gaza and Israel could be beset by a variety of Depressive disorders including a less intense form termed as Dysthymia to Psychotic Depression as well as Major Depression, Bipolar disorder I and II and even Post Partum Depression if mothers are within a year of their delivery of their baby when the unexpected horrendous explicitly planned genocidal attack was implemented. These disorders included heightened risk of suicidal behavior and self-neglect, inanition and pining away process from a deep sense of loss and connection with the indelible imagery illustrating the bodies of tortured, raped, burned and beheaded babies and adults.
I am sharing a link to the statement issued promptly by my APA. "Psychiatry.org - American Psychiatric Association Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Israel" I expect that these attacks, killings, burnings of humans and forcible separations and abductions will cause severe emotional, psychological, medical consequences besides awesome social and community disruptions.
I offer these links that has been benefical during my profeesional work as a Psychiatrist with particular interest i enn engaging with individuals who have chosen Hospice care or are receiving Palliative care and responding to the needs of the community as a whole and individuals traumatized by Adverse Childhood Experiences and have been affected by natural disasters.
Health Promotion - Educational Materials (psychiatristsites.com)
Treatment Recommendations for Restoring Wellbeing (psychiatristsites.com)
Sources of Solace and Strength, Insight, and Inspiration
ClassicalMusiclistandresourcestorestorationofwellbeing
Massachusetts General Hospital- Spiritual Care Spiritual resources for Hard Times (psychiatristsites.com)
Six Tips to enhance Immunity (psychiatristsites.com)
I conclude this plea for common humanity to be established forthwith in all interactions between military of both combatant groups with civilians in Gaza and Israel with these religious precepts and intercessory prayers.
- 1
Numbers 6:22-27
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, "Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:
Numbers 6:22-26
The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you.
The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and give you peace."'
- 2
Psalm 127 KJV
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
- 3.
Psalm 36.9
For with thee is fountain of light. In thy light we see the light. [In Lumine- tuo Videbimus Lumen.] Incidentally this is the motto of Columbia University.
A.4
Motto of Knights Templar during the Crusades.
“Non-Nobis, Domine! Non-Nobis, Sed Nobis too da gloriam. Knights Templar.
Not to us, Not to us O Lord! But to your name give glory), Motto of Knights Templar during the Crusades.
B.1.
Invocatory Prayer for the Purusha Sooktam from the RK Veda- The Hymn to the Creator. This is English transliteration of Sanskrit text.
…
Swasthir Manushebhyaha. Urdhvam Jigathu beshajam.
Sham no astu Dwipade. Sham chatush pade
Om Shanthi, shantih, Shanthi.
“May all Humanity be blessed, may vegetation flourish, may all two footed creatures be blessed, May all four-legged creatures be blessed. May Peace prevail in all the 3. domains within and without
B. 2.
Sanskrit Subhasitam:
“Durjanah sajjano bhūyāt
Sajjanah śāntimāpnuyāt
Sānto mucyeta bandhebhyo
Muktaścānyān vimocayet”
"May evil minded individuals be transformed into good persons. May good persons attain peace within. May those who have attained to Peace achieve freedom from bondage and may those who have achieved liberation work to set free persons from their bonds.
B. 3.
Rig Veda:
“Samano mantrah, samiti samani
Samanam manah saha cittamesam
Samanam mantramabhi mantraye vah
Samanena havisa juhomi
Samani va akutih samana hrdayani vah
Samanamastu vo mano yatha vah susahasati.”
“Common be your prayer; Common be the end of your assembly; Common be your resolution; Common be your deliberations. Alike be your feelings; United be your hearts; Common be your intentions; Perfect be your unity. This is my plea especially to the descendants of the two sons of Patriarch Abraham to come together in social contract embodying comity and amity.”
- 4.
Sarvesham svastir bhavatu. [Probably from the Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad]
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=sarvesham+svastir+bhavatu&qpvt=sarvesham+svastir+bhavatu&FORM=VDRE
I offer this evocative, inspiring and for me a healing mantra, especially with Ms. Tina Turner chanting this Peace Mantra. There are wonderful images of children of all races and perhaps religions, there are children were yarmulkas and dressed in different types of clothes have a great time together. In some images there is ribbon connecting them. I want to offer these images to show the importance of ending this was and setting our children free to explore their dreams in peace and freedom.
Om Sarveshaam Svastir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Shaantir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Poornam-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Mangalam-Bhavatu |
Om Shaantih Shaantih, Shaantihi ||
May there be Well-Being in All, may there be Peace in All, May there be Fulfilment in All, May there be Auspiciousness in All,
Om Peace! Peace! Peace!
I humbly offer this profound Buddhist prayer. Incidentally Ms. Tina Turner is adherent of the Buddhist Spiritual Tradition.
- 1
May Peace Harmonious bless the Land
May peace harmonious bless this land;
May it be ever free from maladies and war;
May there be harvest rich, and increased yield of grain;
May everyone delight in righteousness;
May no perverted thought find entry to your minds;
May all your thoughts e’er pious be and lead
to your success religiously.
- Tibetan Great Yogi, Milarepa
C.2.
Finally, I share this prayer issued by the United Nations:
A Buddhist Prayer for Peace
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid and may those bound be free.
May the powerless find power and may people think of befriending one another.
May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wildernesses - the children, the aged, the unprotected - be guarded by beneficent celestials, and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.
- U.N. Day of Prayer for World Peace
I welcome your esteemed responses. Please feel free to use any of the materials and do share as you see fit. May people of Gaza and of Israel whether they are Muslims, Christians or Jews be regarded with equivalent order of Humanity in the Spirit of Abrahamic Accords and all out efforts are on engaging with and addressing faithfully and diligently the needs of the children of Isaac and Ishmael are addressed urgently and equitably immediately. Then Peace can prevail in all the three domains, within- mind, body, and soul and without in the waters, in the vastness of our planet and in the limitless spaces beyond our horizons.
I am grieving for the traumatized members of all the groups of siblings of Ishmael and Isaac. May God have mercy on us. May God constrain us all from our own malfeasance.
Please feel free to use any of the materials and do share as you see fit. May people of Gaza and of Israel whether they are Muslims, Christians or Jews be regarded with equivalent order of Humanity in the Spirit of Abrahamic Accords and all out efforts are on engaging with and addressing faithfully and diligently the needs of the children of Isaac and Ishmael are addressed urgently and equitably immediately. Then Peace can prevail in all the three domains, within- mind, body, and soul and without in the waters, in the vastness of our planet and in the limitless spaces surrounding us.
Respectfully Submitted,
Velandy Manohar, MD.
Distinguished Life Fellow, APA, Past Steering Committee and Founding member of Psychotherapy Caucus of APA.
Founding Member of Community Resilience Collaborative of Mx. County, CT, focused on impact of Adverse Childhood experiences,
CT State Medical Society Member- Ethics, Quality of Care and Disaster Preparedness Committees,
Past Chair of Board of Trustees, founding member and Past part time Priest of Sree Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, CT.
Chair, Community Engagement and Outreach Standing Committee, Community Advisory Council of office of Health Strategy- CT.
Member Mx Coalition for Children.\, CT