The holocaust across the generations : trauma and its inheritance among descendants of survivors

Winner of the 2017 Outstanding Book Award for the Peace, War, and Social Conflict Section presented by the American Sociological Association Brings together the study of post-Holocaust family culture with the study of collective memory Over the last two decades, the cross-generational transmission of trauma has become an important area of research within both Holocaust studies and the more broad study of genocide. The overall findings of the research suggest that the Holocaust informs both the psychological and social development of the children of survivors who, like their parents, suffer from nightmares, guilt, fear, and sadness. The impact of social memory on the construction of survivor identities among succeeding generations has not yet been adequately explained. Moreover, the importance of gender to the intergenerational transmission of trauma has, for the most part, been overlooked. In The Holocaust across Generations, Janet Jacobs fills these significant gaps in the study of traumatic transference. The volume brings together the study of post-Holocaust family culture with the study of collective memory. Through an in-depth study of 75 children and grandchildren of survivors, the book examines the social mechanisms through which the trauma of the Holocaust is conveyed by survivors to succeeding generations. It explores the social structures--such as narratives, rituals, belief systems, and memorial sites--through which the collective memory of trauma is transmitted within families, examining the social relations of traumatic inheritance among children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Within this analytic framework, feminist theory and the importance of gender are brought to bear on the study of traumatic inheritance and the formation of trauma-based identities among Holocaust carrier groups. Over The Last Two Decades, The Cross-generational Transmission Of Trauma Has Become An Important Area Of Research Within Both Holocaust Studies And The More Broad Study Of Genocide. The Overall Findings Of The Research Suggest That The Holocaust Informs Both The Psychological And Social Development Of The Children Of Survivors Who, Like Their Parents, Suffer From Nightmares, Guilt, Fear, And Sadness. The Impact Of Social Memory On The Construction Of Survivor Identities Among Succeeding Generations Has Not Yet Been Adequately Explained. Moreover, The Importance Of Gender To The Intergenerational Transmission Of Trauma Has, For The Most Part, Been Overlooked. In The Holocaust Across Generations, Janet Jacobs Fills These Significant Gaps In The Study Of Traumatic Transference. The Volume Brings Together The Study Of Post-holocaust Family Culture With The Study Of Collective Memory. Through An In-depth Study Of 75 Children And Grandchildren Of Survivors, The Book Examines The Social Mechanisms Through Which The Trauma Of The Holocaust Is Conveyed By Survivors To Succeeding Generations. It Explores The Social Structures—such As Narratives, Rituals, Belief Systems, And Memorial Sites—through Which The Collective Memory Of Trauma Is Transmitted Within Families, Examining The Social Relations Of Traumatic Inheritance Among Children And Grandchildren Of Holocaust Survivors. Within This Analytic Framework, Feminist Theory And The Importance Of Gender Are Brought To Bear On The Study Of Traumatic Inheritance And The Formation Of Trauma-based Identities Among Holocaust Carrier Groups. --back Cover. Family Narratives And The Social Construction Of Descendant Identity -- Ritual And The Emotional Transmission Of Holocaust Trauma -- Redefining The Sacred: Spirituality And The Crisis Of Masculinity Among Children And Grandchildren Of Survivors -- The Social Relations Of Inherited Trauma: The Meaning Of Attachment And Connection In The Lives Of Descendants -- Reengaging The Past: Identity, Mourning, And Empathy At Sites Of Terror -- Descendants As Holocaust Carriers: Bringing The Past Into Public Consciousness -- The Changing Landscape Of Holocaust Remembrance And Future Directions In The Study Of Traumatic Inheritance. Janet Jacobs. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1. Family Narratives and the Social Construction of Descendant Identity 13 2. Ritual and the Emotional Transmission of Holocaust Trauma 41 3. Redefining the Sacred: Spirituality and the Crisis of Masculinity among Children and Grandchildren of Survivors 65 4. The Social Relations of Inherited Trauma: The Meaning of Attachment and Connection in the Lives of Descendants 83 5. Reengaging the Past: Identity, Mourning, and Empathy at Sites of Terror 105 6. Descendants as Holocaust Carriers: Bringing the Past into Public Consciousness 125 Conclusion: The Changing Landscape of Holocaust Remembrance and Future Directions in the Study of Traumatic Inheritance 149 Notes 159 Bibliography 161 Index 173 About the Author 179