Holocaust Survivor Pioneered Trauma Therapy

Another survivor of the Shoah has passed. Henry Krystal, 90, died earlier this month. He was the only member of his immediate family to survive the atrocities. Following the war he made his way to the US where he dedicated his professional and personal life to helping the survivors heal from the psychological trauma.

After reading Dr. Krystal’s obituary, I am humbled by his courage and strength and his desire to help not only Jewish Holocaust survivors, but to use his work to understand trauma in survivors of other catastrophes. It is thanks to him that military veterans, among others, can now be treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Henry Krystal’s work continues. Eva Fogelman, who wrote the moving tribute in The Forward, currently works with both first and second generation Holocaust survivors. Read more about Dr. Fogelman here.

“Escape was not our goal since it was so unrealistic. What we wanted was to survive, to live long enough to tell the world what had happened in Buchenwald.” 
― Jack Werber, Saving Children: Diary Of A Buchenwald Survivor And Rescuer