Week 5 Discussion

Impact of History on Worldview

When we think about the Jewish community and the impact history has had on the worldview of this racial group, the Jewish community has experienced oppression, persecution and have been the target for massacres from the Spanish Inquisition to the Holocaust. Many view this racial group as hungry for wealth, power and control. This is a stereotype that has consumed peoples view of Jews during periods of financial distress. The Holocaust for example, represents an unbelievably traumatic period in Jewish History. As that time Nazi Germans ruthlessly murdered an estimated 6 million Jewish men, women, and children (Sue & Sue, 2013).

Many people in society worldview and current perceptions have an influence on the attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors of this group of people. For many Jewish identities itself is extremely complex and highly personal. If an individual can not acknowledge or at all questions the occurrence of the Holocaust invalidates the lost and suffering of millions of victims and their families. The influence of society over this tragic part of history is hurtful when a community of people are ignored and also invalidated. This happens also in our current times when society recognizes holidays and religious expectations of Christians but ignores those of the Jewish faith and community.

References

Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2013). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.