What is trauma-driven thinking, and how does it impact the day-to-day lives of second, third and even fourth generation Holocaust survivors?
In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, an Israeli-Canadian physician and third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors. Drawing from personal reflection and lived experience, Dr. Goldstein explores how inherited fear and anxiety can quietly shape family dynamics, identity, and worldview, often without being recognized until much later in life. He shares vivid memories of his grandparents’ habits that once seemed harmless but now reveal the deep imprint of survival trauma. Dr. Goldstein describes how his understanding of their fear has evolved, especially as a parent raising children in Israel.
This thoughtful conversation explores how trauma is transmitted through families, how it adapts across generations, and what it means to live with inherited vigilance in today’s uncertain world.
