Join us!
We are excited to invite you to our annual Beyachad JOTN continuing education event.
Breaking Through Barriers:
Jewish & Israeli OTs in Action
Sunday March 15, 2026 1:30-3:00pm EST
Free, Virtual, 1.5 live CEUs
Israeli OTs and Jewish OTs around the world, including our presenters and many of us, continue to work through challenging circumstances in the shadow of October 7. For many, the professional landscape has changed dramatically. Increasingly hostile academic spaces, ideological creep in academic and professional millieus, and the threat of boycotts and harassment, are all part of a new reality for Israeli and Jewish health professionals. Now, more than ever, let's come together to support and amplify each other as presenters discuss their research, publications, and challenges they've faced.
We are very excited to have OTs from Israel, Canada, Britain, and the US sharing experiences with us. Our program includes:
- Opening Remarks: Jeffrey Rothman, occupational therapist & founder of Martial Arts for the Soul, a non-profit teaching Jews self defense using martial arts techniques.
- Research Spotlight: Beyond Training: Work Skills Development and Quality of Life Outcomes in Autistic
Young Adults Through Military Service Integration & Self-identity in times of collective trauma: a comparison between autistic and
non-autistic college students: Asnat Bar Haim Erez & Efrat Selanikyo, University of Ono, Israel
- Publication Highlights: Authors of various recent and upcoming publications in OT Practice & CJOT including Lola Halperin, Alison Herman, Wendy Stav, Maya Wolf & Pamela Wener, Barbara Mazer & Cynthia Perlman will discuss their experiences, publications, post publication responses, and future directions. Their deeply meaningful and important articles about how Judaism, Israel, October 7, and the surrounding responses affected practice, education, and the professional environment in CJOT and OT Practice include:
- Doing, Being, Belonging, and Becoming: An Occupational Response to Trauma
- Shattering Slience, Shattering Unity
- Upholding Pluralism in Occupational Therapy: A Response to Recent Calls for Political Alignment
- Moderated Q&A
- Closing Remarks: Sam Cox occupational therapist & multi-term OT volunteer in Israel since 2023
Sunday 15th March 2026
Los Angeles 10:00am
New York 1:00pm
London 6:00pm
Israel 8:00pm (20:00)
Johannesburg 8:00pm
Sydney 5:00am (date: 16/3)
*These times have been adjusted for Daylight Savings in Israel/UK
Publication Highlights
Our cofounder Tamar Paluch & Lee Kofman's recent book Ruptured: Jewish Women in Australia Reflect on Life Post October 7 is based in concepts of occupational justice and brings together 36 raw, honest esssays by Australian Jewish women from all walks of life about how antisemitism, hostility, and Jew hatred affected their lives and is an attempt to mend the profound rift created that day.
Share your light!
We're always seeking connections and know that your light will brighten our network!
If you are interested in a more active or leadership role, please contact us!
