New Peer-Reviewed Paper Reveals Widespread "Traumatic Invalidation" of Jews After October 7

Miri Bar-Halpern and Jaclyn Wolfman’s new paper examines how emotional invalidation and denial have compounded the trauma for Jewish communities following the October 7 Hamas attacks

The Weight of Two Traumas

In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel – the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust – Jews around the world were met not with widespread empathy, but with silence, blame, and denial, according to a new peer-reviewed paper. Authored by Miri Bar-Halpern from the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard University and Jaclyn Wolfman from Village Psychology, this phenomenon constitutes a second trauma: "traumatic invalidation." The paper explores how Jewish pain, identity, and humanity were systematically dismissed in the wake of the attacks, creating lasting psychological damage alongside grief and fear.

What Is Traumatic Invalidation?

Traumatic invalidation refers to the chronic or extreme denial of someone’s most significant emotional experiences – especially by people, institutions, or cultures they depend on. In this case, many Jews reported being met with indifference, hostility, or accusations when expressing their trauma post-October 7. This invalidation deepened their psychological wounds, contributing to symptoms similar to PTSD.

Forms of Invalidation Jews Faced After October 7

The paper applies Melanie Harned’s framework of traumatic invalidation to Jewish experiences, identifying nine common invalidating behaviors:

• Emotional neglect - Being told Jewish suffering doesn’t matter.

• Criticism - Facing slurs like “baby killer” or being called “greedy.”

• Unequal treatment - Being excluded from DEI programs or needing extra security.

• Exclusion - Social groups and events blacklisting Jews or Zionists.

• Denying reality - Downplaying or denying the October 7 attacks and sexual violence.

• Blame - Holding Jews accountable for the actions of the Israeli government.

• Control - Pressuring Jews to hide their identity or condemn Israel to be accepted.

• Misinterpretation - Assuming Jewish support for Israel means hate for Palestinians.

• Ignoring - Erasing Jewish narratives from media, academia, and public memorials.

Table adapted from Harned’s work on the nine types of traumatic invalidation: Credit: Miri Bar-Halpern & Jaclyn Wolfman

Mental Health Consequences

Chronic invalidation can result in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder such as hypervigilance, avoidance, and emotional dysregulation. It can lead to self-invalidation and internalized antisemitism, where individuals start to believe they are overreacting or unworthy. Many reported a deep sense of insecurity, shame, identity confusion, and the adoption of unrealistic self-expectations to avoid further rejection. Students reported hiding their Jewish identity out of fear. Some Jewish professionals chose to leave institutions entirely, citing psychological distress and fear for their safety.

Therapeutic and Institutional Recommendations

The authors urge therapists and institutions to implement trauma-informed, culturally competent practices. Therapists should validate Jewish experiences, help clients cope with anticipated invalidation, and teach self-compassion and emotion regulation skills. Institutions must move beyond performative gestures and ensure Jewish identity and suffering are not erased or politicized. This includes education, public support, and correcting misinformation. Mental health professionals are also encouraged to reflect on potential biases and avoid reinforcing shame or minimization in clinical settings.

Seeing the Invisible Wound

The report demonstrates how in addition to physical violence, trauma can stem from how that violence is received by others. When grief is politicized or erased, it isolates victims and deepens their wounds. In the words of the authors, healing requires “recognizing our pain, our joy, our complexity, and our humanity.”

The October 7 attacks opened a chasm in the Jewish psyche that many feel has only been widened by the world’s reaction. Traumatic invalidation has made it harder for Jews to grieve, speak, and exist safely. Recognizing this second layer of trauma is essential not only for healing, but for justice.