HARRISBURG, Pa. — As fighting in Israel continues this week, people are looking for ways to talk about the Hamas attacks, especially with their children.
“Many of us have family connections to what is going on in Israel," said Samara Sofian, the head of the Silver Academy, a Jewish day school in Harrisburg.
This week, the Silver Academy warned families to be mindful of the distressing images coming from the Gaza strip. The school is recommending parents keep an eye on what their kids are seeing on social media.
“We want to make sure that, in their searching, [kids] aren’t stumbling upon something that might be really horrifying," said Sofian. "Not to keep them uninformed, but to protect them from finding something they really shouldn't see."
Dr. Melissa Brown, a clinical psychologist with UPMC, believes it's import to limit the exposure to graphic content coming out of the Gaza conflict. She added that parents can play an important role by talking to their kids about the conflict in a safe and healthy way.
“Being that trusted adult for your child is really going to be the first place you start," said Dr. Brown. “If they have someone they can talk to and validate what they’re thinking, give them accurate information, that is such a valuable resource for our kids.”
David Cohen, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, is encouraging families and communities to come together for support, as the fighting in Israel rages on.
“Come together, look for support, don’t isolate," said Cohen.