Chapter 21: Counseling Jewish Americans

Question 1

Between 1880 and 1942, more than 2 million Jews emigrated to the United States from

a. Russia, Italy, Austria, and Portugal
b. Germany, France, England, and Austria
c. Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Japan
d. Russia, Austria, Hungary, and Romania

Answer 1

d

Question 2

True/False

Question: Recent statistics conclude that more than 59 percent of the 1,163 hate crimes were anti-Semitic.

Answer 2

true

Question 3

___________ _________ are individuals who do not acknowledge or who question the existence of the genocide that occurred during the Holocaust.

Answer 3

Holocaust deniers

Question 4

What might be some guiding principles in working with Jewish clients?

Answer 4

• it is very important to be respectful of and knowledgable about Jewish culture. As most clinicians are from a Christian background, the traditions, values, and religious rituals that are important to Jewish Americans are often overlooked or dismissed.
• therapists might inadvertently commit microaggressions due to their lack of understanding. In an example Langman describes is of a Jewish client who requested that an appointment not be scheduled during Yom Kippur. The therapist responded: “What? Do you need to pray or something?” The outcome was that the client felt humiliated, devalued, ashamed, and unsupported.

Question 5

The largest Jewish community in the world is in which country?

a. Spain
b. United States
c. Canada
d. Argentina
e. Israel

Answer 5

e

Question 6

True/False

Question: The United States has the highest Jewish population next to Israel.

Answer 6

true

Question 7

According to research, only _____ percent of multicultural courses in APA doctoral programs in counseling covered Jews as a distinct cultural group.

Answer 7

8

Question 8

What characteristics may make Jewish people reluctant to seek therapy?

Answer 8

Because of their strong faith in Judaism, some Jewish individuals may be reluctant to seek treatment. Seeking help that might imply that their religion has failed them or that they are defective in some way. Orthodox Jewish communities tend to be closely knit, thus the stigma associated with seeking therapy might reduce a person’s opportunities to establish social relationships or marry within the community.

Question 9

According to the text, there are approximately 4.2 million who claim to be Jewish, and another 1.1 million profess to be secular or cultural Jews, which means that they are

a. people who identify as Jewish but have no religion and do not engage in Jewish practices
b. people who identify as Jewish and believe in a specific sect of the Jewish faith
c. people who identify as Jewish but are guilt ridden about their faith
d. people who do not identify as Jewish but believe in faith rather than science

Answer 9

a

Question 10

True/False

Question: People who have converted to Judaism but who do not have Jewish parents are not considered Jewish.

Answer 10

false

Question 11

Which of the following describe Jewish Americans? SATA

a. people who practice Judaism and have a Jewish ethnic background
b. people who have converted to Judaism but do not have Jewish parents
c. individuals with a Jewish ethnic background who do not practice Judaism but still maintain their cultural identity and connection to their Jewish descent
d. only those born in Israel are authentic Jewish Americans

Answer 11

a,b,c

Question 12

In the text, a therapist responded to a client who requested to not be scheduled during Yom Kippur, to which the therapist responded, “What? Do you need to pray or something?” This could be considered a _ _.

Answer 12

microaggression

Question 13

What are some of the main tenets of the Jewish faith?

Answer 13

• Judaism bases its belief in an omnipotent God who created humankind, and was one of the earliest monotheistic religions.
• According to Judaism, God established a covenant with the Jewish people. He subsequently revealed His commandments to them in the Torah, the holy book. The most important commandments are the Ten Commandments found in several sections of the holy book.
• Individuals who desire to convert to Judaism go through the process of (a) studying Judaism and the observance of the commandments, (b) immersion in a ritual bath and, for males (c) circumcision (although symbolic circumcision may be allowed by some sects).

Question 14

According to Judaism, the holy book that reveals God’s commandments is called the

a. Synagogue
b. Yom Kippur
c. Torah
d. Talmud
e. Kosher

Answer 14

c

Question 15

True/False

Question: Religious behavior and traditions such as lighting the Shabbat candles are not considered to be useful to Jewish people because it brings up negative feelings associated with the Holocaust.

Answer 15

false

Lighting the Shabbat candles has been found to be calming since they remind individuals of their history and community.

Question 16

According to a national Jewish survey, the Jewish population is on the decline due to __________, ________, __________ and ___________.

Answer 16

aging; falling birth rate; intermarriage; assimilation

Question 17

Name some of the more important Jewish holidays. Why are these important to remember in working with Jewish clients?

Answer 17

• One of the most important Jewish holidays is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is the one day a year set aside to atone for sins during the past year.
• Another important holiday is Rosh Hashanah, which is the start of the Jewish New Year, and is another High Holiday in Judaism. This holiday, is celebrated 10 days before Yom Kippur, and represents the creation of the world or universe. Even Jews who are not religious often attend synagogue services and spend time with family during these celebrations.
• Other important religious holidays are Passover and Hanukkah both with significant ties to Jewish history.
• As with all culturally diverse clients the authors recommend counselors know the history, spiritual, sociopolitical backdrop, and context of clients’ lives that can aid in becoming more culturally aware and competent.

Question 18

Most sects of Judaism require the following processes to be successfully achieved EXCEPT:

a. Studies on Judaism and the observance of the commandments.
b. Immersion in a ritual bath.
c. Communion for children transitioning into adolescence.
d. Circumcision (or symbolic circumcision) for males.

Answer 18

c

Question 19

True/False

Question: Among Orthodox Jews, higher levels of religious beliefs are associated with negative mental health outcomes.

Answer 19

false

Among Orthodox Jews, higher levels of religious beliefs are associated with positive mental health outcomes. This may be due to the emotional and spiritual support from having a personal relationship with God

Question 20

Some Jewish people speak _________, _________, or the language of their country of origin.

Answer 20

Hebrew; Yiddish

Question 21

What are some rituals that may help Jewish clients achieve a state of calmness?

Answer 21

Religious behavior and traditions, such as lighting Shabbat candles, may be calming, since they remind individuals of their history and their community

Question 22

According to Pew Research Center (2013, as cited in Sue 8th edition) the Jewish population in the United States is estimated to be

a. 320,000
b. 1.2 million
c. 5.3 million
d. 12.8 million
e. 26.8 million

Answer 22

c

Question 23

When counseling an orthodox Jew, it may be desirable to

a. focus on the emotional aspect of the client’s concern rather than on their particular religious beliefs and practices
b. try the “blaming the victim” approach
c. consult with a rabbi
d. raise the issue of the client’s obstructiveness and hostility in a nonconfrontational way

Answer 23

c

Question 24

True/False

Question: Anti-Semitic views toward American Jews often decrease in conjunction with negative reaction to Israeli actions in the Middle East.

Answer 24

false

Anti-Semitic views toward American Jews often arise in conjunction with negative reaction to Israeli actions in the Middle East.

Question 25

What are the stages of identity development for Jews?

Answer 25

• Lack of awareness of one’s Jewish identity
• Gradual awareness of Jewish identity
• Comparison of Jewish identity with other religions, such as Christianity
• Development of a sense of Jewishness