Dialogue Groups Between Descendants of Holocaust Perpetrators, Victims, and a Liberator: A Retrospective Account

Abstract

ABSTRACT The 11th dialogue group between descendants of Holocaust perpetrators, victims, and liberators was held in conjunction with the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) Conference in Reykjavík, Iceland, in October 2006. Some of the history and evolution of this unusual group of mental health professionals, which has had an existence of 12 years, has been chronicled in prior articles (Kaslow, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002). Therefore, in this article the most salient facts about the group's origins, raison d'être, and annual meetings, as well as changing group composition, is summarized. Some reflections on the course of the life of the group, its impact on its members, and the wider ripple effect are provided. Written comments made by some of the participants are included to illuminate their reflections on their experiences. The meeting in Reykjavik is described and finally the reasons for phasing out the group are given. A significant 12-year project is drawn to a close, hopefully with members having derived both new perceptions of the “other” and some deep and lasting healing through personal reexperiencing of the Holocaust having been incorporated and integrated differently into their lives. It is hoped that readers may deduce some principles and glean other information that will be valuable to them in their practices and their personal lives when dealing with survivors of the Holocaust and other more recent traumatic genocides: their students, supervisees, patients, colleagues, and perhaps relatives.