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it v» *'kw *W^*> wM^AM . V PMMPVWpn Page 24 -THE SOUTHERN ISkA+JHL -October *1,11986 Unique service offered Counseling keeps ‘culture shock’ at bay Special to The Southern Israelite When someone makes aliyah they’re in for a real shock. We’re speaking about culture shock; and if you think that this is just a meaningless term or the clever title of a new book, you’re wrong. Culture shock is a verifiable emotional condition. It has been studied in depth, and its various stages categorized by social scientists. It was really “disco vered,” if you will, not in Israel with its tens of thousands of immigrants from all over the world, but oddly enough, in Washington, D.C., where it was the first defined and studied. An alert sociologist noticed that many members of the diplo matic community in Washington exhibited signs of disorientation and depression after arriving in the American capital. She defined the malady as “culture shock,” which occurs when one is removed from his familiar cultural milieu and thrust into an entirely differ ent cultural setting. Nomi Rosenberg is an expert on culture shock. Not only does she treat people experiencing culture shock, she does so from first-hand knowledge. “I went through culture shock at least twice,” notes the vivacious 35- year old mother of two. “Once when I made aliyah in 1969, and again when 1 returned to the United States as an aliyah emis sary for three years in 1983.” Nomi’s personal experiences led her to develop the unique ser vice of Culture Shock Counsel ing now being offered by the Association of American and Canadians in Israel (AACI). Given Nomi’s background and the AACI’s long history of ser vice to North American olim, it’s not surprising that the two have joined forces on this project. Nomi Rosenberg grew up in various communities in the Unit ed States as her father, a rabbi, moved to different pulpits around the country. She finished high school in Greenville, Mississippi, and made aliyah in 1969. In 1974, she graduated from the Baerwald School of Social Work at He brew University. From 1976 through 1983, she was in charge of a Jerusalem-based project aimed at rehabilitating released convicts. From 1983 until 1986, she served as the aliyah emissary in the Greater Washington, D.C., area. The AACI is the largest and most active of the immigrant associations in Israel. Founded in 1951, its over 18,000 members collectively represent most of the 60,000 North Americans living in Israel. The main goal of the AACI is smoothing the absorption of new immigrants into the main stream of Israeli society. Toward this end, it offers extensive coun seling services on such important topics as education, housing, taxes and employment. Its five regional offices also sponsor a variety of social activities, ranging from picnics to support groups for single parents and seniors. Reflecting on her personal ex periences and drawing on her professional background, Nomi has developed the idea of Culture Shock Counseling. She feels that the concept of “aliyah,” literally “going up," often serves to raise the expectations of new immi grants to an unrealistic level and exaggerates the effects of culture shock. The counseling, which takes place on an individual or family level, serves to help the immigrant pass quickly through the depression phase and into the coping phase of culture shock. “Most olim who return to America do so during the depres sion stage,” explains Nomi. “This is when they are the most vulner able and feel the worst. We help them to understand that their feelings are normal and will pass with time. I really believe that as this type of counseling becomes more widespread we’ll begin to see a drop in the rate of returning olim.” FOR THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Ron Weintraub Best of Europe, Jaguar Hennessy Cadillac Jaguar 3040 Piedmont Rd., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30305 261-5700 Nomi Rosenberg during a counseling session at the AACI office. Both Nomi and the professional staff of the AACI view this new program as an important advance in the services that are offered to North American immigrants liv ing in Israel “This is really a revo lutionary approach in dealing with olim,” states Nomi. “We are relating to the new immigrant on a personal/emotional level, and not just as a statistic in a bureau cratic system.” Specialist says Syria rethinking costs of war; predicts new threat NEW YORK—A specialist in Middle Eastern affairs has warned that there is an erosion in Syria’s perception of the costs of war with Israel, thereby increasing the danger of such a conflict. Dr. Shai Feldman, a senior research fellow at the Jaffe Insti tute for strategic studies at Tel Aviv University, told a meeting of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith’s Middle Eastern Affairs Committee, that a policy of strategic deterrence has kept the peace between Syria and Israel in recent years. “The policy of strategic deter rence,” Dr. Feldman explained, “has been based on each coun try’s perception of the costs of conflict and the punishment it was willing—or unwilling—to accept. Now Syria is gradually changing its perceptions and adding to the risks of war.” A major reason for this change, he told the group, is a massive buildup by the Syrian armed for ces. In the past, Syria regarded itself as not having military par ity with Israel. That is not quite the case today, he reported, since Syria’s forces have doubled since 1978. There has been an enor mous anti-tank buildup in the area between Israel’s border on the Golan Heights and Damas cus. Anti-aircraft missiles and artillery have increased and the Syrian air force is becoming more sophisticated. Dr. Feldman, who is also a vis iting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Affairs, said all this is changing Syria’s views on the costs of conflict and the kind of punishment it might inflict. While Syria may not deem itself in a position of strategic parity with Israel at this point. Dr. Feldman said, and may not be planning active conflict, be cause of the erosion in its percep tions war could result from a var iety of possible crises. For example, he cited the at tempted placing of a bomb on an El Al airplane in London last summer. If the terrorists had succeeded and Syria was found to be involved, this could have triggered the destruction of the currently fragile strategic deter rence, he said. EYEYEYEYEYEYEYEYE y QQptical £ e oervices E Y Y E offers E Y Y E Quality E ^ Selection £ y Experience y y Y We have a ^ Y beautiful selection Y E of designer frames... E Y at below Y E retail prices. E Y 2441 Cheshire Bridge Y £ Suite 112 £ Y 6369727 v EYEYEYEYEYEYEYEYE Patronize The Southern Israelite Advertisers The Gentle Touch Dr. Jane Rosenberg $35 Off Spinal Exam Includes consultation and Orthopedic Neurological Chiropractic examination Regularly $50 Now $15 Dr. Jane Rosenberg Chiropractor Dr Jane Rosenberg. Doctor ol Chiropractic has never slopped her Chiropractic Education In addition to her doctorate and bachelors degree. Dr Rosenberg has continued to complete professional courses and is now a member in the American Col lege of Chiropractic Orthopedists Perhaps you have hesitated visiting a chiropractor and you did not know about Dr Rosenberg's gentle touch. Maybe you did not know that Dr Rosenberg also utilizes massage ther apy to supplement her chiropractic care She has successfully treated • Back Pain • Shoulder Pain • Neck Pain • Arm/Leg Pain • Numbness • Hip Pain • Headaches • Painful Joints • Arthritis • Stiffness • Bursitis • Cold Hands/Feet. CALL FOR APPOINTMENT 2090 Dunwoody Club Dr. • Suite 113 Orchard Park • Dunwoody, Ga. 30338 396-3106