Shalom and Welcome

August 21, 2024 
     More than ten months have elapsed since the people of Israel have been called to defend and rescue their country and countrymen. The onset of summer for the people of Israel is overshadowed by the ongoing war in Gaza and the threat of war on the Lebanese border.The fate of the Israeli hostages in Gaza is uppermost in the minds of most Israelis and their safe return, living (and sadly- also not living) is critical.
     After a long delay and an unconscionable degree of denial by the civilized world, the magnitude of the extreme sexual and sadistic violence of the Hamas rapists and murderers is being acknowledged. If there is a strong condemnation in the  Arab world of these actions, there may be hope for the  region and humanity. Sadly, the attempt to condemn Israel for Genocide in the International Court of Justice is both demoralizing and boggles the mind. Hamas undertook genocidal actions and their descriptions of their goals as a movement do meet the criteria for that accusation. Yet it is Israel that is being accused of this heinous crime. The report issued by the United Nations documenting the sexual crimes and murders systematically perpetrated by the Hamas and other organizations on October 7 supports the earlier documentations by the New York Times as well as by numerous Israeli organizations. Shockingly, the sexual abuse and violence continues to victimize the Israeli’s held hostage in the Gaza underworld of tunnels.
     The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza affecting so many people is a matter of great concern for all persons of conscience. It is incumbent on all to find ways to limit the negative physical and emotional consequences of this war  for people on both sides of the border. The information on this website is relevant and available to populations experiencing bereavement, trauma and traumatic bereavements.
       On February 9, 2024, the laboratory together with the Zramim postgraduate center hosted a lecture by Professor Robert Neimeyer and Dr. Carolyn Ng – Grief Therapy for Traumatic Loss: Integrating the Narrative of the Death. The links to the recording and supplemental material can be found at the bottom of this page.
     December 7th was the 2 month anniversary of the Hamas attack on the civilian population surrounding the Gaza strip. Unlike the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th 82 years ago, there has been little time to allow for quiet reflection. Early on, the fighting with the Hamas terrorists who remained within Israel; the collection and identification of those desecrated and killed and the attention to those kidnapped were uppermost in our minds. The ongoing missile attacks on Israel have lessened but not stopped, and the military actions in this war together with the causalities of the war are painful and highly stressful for the society.
     These months have seen the mobilization of Israeli society to support the hostages, the families of those killed, wounded and kidnapped, the displaced from their homes in the south and in the north, and the military. We at the International Laboratory are continuing in our efforts to develop materials that will be useful to professionals and the public. Unfortunately, the still unfolding events, and the nature of the long term impact of trauma, loss and traumatic loss means that a long-term perspective on the impact of these events on individuals, families and society  will be needed for a long time.
     Due to the tremendous demand and need for mental health services informed by theory, research and clinical expertise, my colleagues and I will be devoting most of our energies to the Hebrew home page and the videos that we will be posting there. In calmer times, and with financial and institutional support, we will be able to reach out to broader swaths of those who can benefit from our sharing of knowledge. Thank you for your understanding.

Professor Simon Shimshon Rubin – Director of the Laboratory

Dr. Ruth Malkinson – Director of Training

Professor Eliezer Witztum

October 17, 2023 – I am updating this webpage during an incredible painful and tragic time. The unprecedented acts of almost unspeakable violence against the Israeli people living their lives in the southern region near the Gaza continue to reverberate throughout civil society here and also touch people of good will around the globe.
Autumn, 2023

Hello and Shalom,

This site functions as a bridge to link people. We seek to link those who are looking for answers to various questions and the International Laboratory for the Study of Loss, Bereavement and Human Resilience. We understand that many questions can lead you to our site. Some of you are dealing with the loss of a loved one and seek guidance, information or assistance. Some  of you are professionals and policy makers who look to this site as a source for up to date and reliable information. And many others may find themselves here due to any number of reasons. All of us are interconnected members of families, communities, and society where loss can come swiftly to change the lives of .people we are connected to.

We understand that loss is  a major topic and that simple answers can not begin to do justice to the meanings and impact of bereavement in our lives. The questions people have  vary and change for many reasons.The process of adapting to loss takes time, and understanding the multiple pathways that people take to respond to loss often takes time as well. The days, months, and years that follow bereavement reflect different realities for different people. There is no one right way or one reality for loss.

Our main goal in general, and for this website in particular, is to be of assistance to persons around the topic of bereavement, loss and resilience following loss. Resilience means some and all of the following: 1) the ability to overcome difficulty and live again after serious difficulty and tragedy; 2) that human quality of dignity that all of us share; and 3) those qualities that help us grieve and mourn the loss of those we love in ways that are adaptive.

The site is currently under construction and is undergoing revision. We hope that even in its present form, it can assist you in at least some of your search. My colleagues and I hope you will help us improve by providing feedback and suggestions There are also participatory activities which include conferences, seminars, involvement in research (with feedback to participants), and training for professionals.

For those of you who are in the midst of grief, we send our condolences. Grief and mourning are human experiences from the beginning of time for all of humankind. But the pain of grief and the mourning for a particular person who has died are always highly individual and meaningful in unique ways. May you find your way to remember your loved one and maintain your connection to life in ways that are right for you.

Sincerely,
Simon Shimshon Rubin
Director

Announcements and Current Information – February 14,  2024

On February 9, 2024, Professor Robert Neimeyer and Dr. Carolyn Ng gave a lecture titled “Grief Therapy for Traumatic Loss: Integrating the Narrative of the Death.” The lecture is featured on the youtube channel of the laboratory. Supplemental materials: Slides  & Handout

YouTube Channels – Current

Youtube Older materials

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2012 Volume with Much Relevant Information

Website of Professor Simon Shimshon Rubin with many  additional materials including full list of publications.

RESEARCH

The Two-Track Bereavement Questionnaire3 – CG11 – This 11 item self-report measures was developed as a screening tool and baseline assessment measure. It is undergoing validation.

We are currently updating our research capabilities to take into account the events that began on October 7, 2023.

SURVEY

RESEARCH

If you write to us at lbhrl2023@gmail.com, we will try to contact you when circumstances permit this.

Thank you,
Staff of the International Laboratory for the Study of loss, Bereavement and Human Resilience

Article of the Month:

Rubin, S.S., Manevich, A., & Yehene, E. (2024). Continuing Bonds in Marriage, Death and Divorce: Conceptual and Clinical Considerations in the Relationship to Self and Spouse. Omega. DOI: 10.1177/00302228241226471

Manevich A, Yehene E and Rubin SS (2023) A case for inclusion of disordered Non-Death Interpersonal Grief as an official diagnosis: rationale, challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in  Psychiatry 14:1300565. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1300565

Rubin, S.S., Malkinson, R . & Witztum, E. (2020) Traumatic Bereavements: Rebalancing the Relationship to the Deceased and the Death Story Using the Two-Track Model of Bereavement Frontiers in Psychiatry DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.537596