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BEAR WITNESS PROCESSING Processing Resources BEAR WITNESS PROCESSING Goal Participants see the opportunities after the October 7th attack Bearing witness to the events of October 7th can be overwhelming Before you continue your tour processing is an effective way to discharge stress and apprehension It is also a good way for participants to share questions that arise as a result of the encounters with people and places affected by October 7th This processing session should be conducted with extra sensitivity and inclusion 1

BEAR WITNESS PROCESSING Emotional Processing For emotional processing we suggest a three stage process It is essential to have a mediator in this process We recommend small groups for this processing session but the size of the groups depends on the number of mediators Stage 1 Talk about emotions When someone shares their personal story they need your compassionate listening and empa Share how you feel about what you witnessed and name the emotions and feelings that engulfed you Anger Sadness De thy not advice They need to sense your ability to put yourself in their shoes and to identify with their emotions spair Anxiety Confusion Try to sense what you are feeling now while reflecting on the experience you had Try not to hide or downplay your emotional reaction Don t hold back the tears if you feel them Sadness like love or joy is just another emotion The following questions can help participants in this intimate phase How did you feel during the visit Anger Sadness Confusion Despair Anxiety How do you feel about the visit in retrospect Did your emotions surprise you Have you encountered those feelings in the past 2

BEAR WITNESS PROCESSING Stage 2 Uncover your vulnerability Everyone has vulnerabilities Try to express what troubled you and what button was pressed that made you feel like you do Maybe you cannot understand why you feel so troubled Try to be aware of your vulnerabilities People and experiences especially those close to you might press your buttons to move you to action or to upset you The following questions can help participants better discover their vulnerabilities Was it a specific issue a person or an action that affected you Can you point to a specific moment during your experience that affected you How has this troubled you Did this echo a moment in your past Did it echo a fear sensitivity you carry 3

BEAR WITNESS PROCESSING Stage 3 Find the hidden opportunity While naming your emotions you may be able to identify the buttons that were pressed that threw you off balance Now zoom out to view the full picture and look for the hidden opportunity Remember in every crisis there is an opportunity The following questions can help participants find the opportunities hidden in what they experienced What can you learn about yourself How can this knowledge or awareness help you become a better person friend or partner Of all the things you witnessed what gives you hope What is one positive conclusion you took with you from this experience 4

BEAR WITNESS PROCESSING Experience Processing To process your experience we offer several options After you bear witness to the October 7th events everyone must be given an opportunity to speak We recommend dividing into small groups for the first part of the processing and then coming back together with all participants to share The following suggestions are designed to create a discussion that s more than just describing facts It allows participants to voice their thoughts and struggle with their questions A Ask participants to share one item object story or figure that captured their attention moved them or intrigued them and ask them to explain why B Ask participants to share one question thought or insight they had during this experience about the experience itself or about the broader Israel story C Ask participants to share one picture they took or wanted to take during this experience to share with family and friends Then ask them why they wanted to share this particular picture and what it represents for them Here are some questions for your group discussion The questions are designed to enhance the discussion and make it more interesting and meaningful What did you expect this experience to be How did your assumptions match reality Who would you like to share your experience with at home Why In a sentence how would you describe this visit to a friend back home What part of the tour was interesting relevant meaningful or powerful for you Why What impressed you What surprised you Why On balance was the experience positive or negative Do you feel different after the visit What was most relevant for you during this experience What is one thing you will take with you from the visit What can you learn about yourself from this experience How can this knowledge or awareness help you become a better person friend or partner Of all the things you witnessed what gives you hope 5