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Liv­ing Beyond Ter­ror­ism is the title of Dr. Zieva Dauber Kon­visser’s magnum opus, recently published by Gefen Publishers. Subtitled, Israeli Sto­ries of Hope and Heal­ing, this remarkable volumeis the tale of tragic ter­ror­ist attacks and their impact in Israel, told by survivors. Although they rep­re­sent various sectors of Israeli soci­ety, they are introduced as unique individuals, not as sta­tis­tics.

Dr. Konvisser’s analysis of each case reflects her sensitivity to human suffering and her multifaceted educational and career background. Originally a pharmaceutical chemist, she eventually became an automotive executive. Retiring from the scientific/technical field, Dr. Konvisser followed her inner drive, delving into the discipline of human development and earning a Ph.D.

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At present she is a fellow at the Institute for Social Innovation at Fielding Graduate University, where her work focuses on the impact of traumatic events, such as genocide, war and terrorism on human development. Zieva has always endeavored to use her work to make a beneficial difference in people’s lives.

Born in Miami Beach, Florida, Zieva Dauber grew up in Passaic and Clifton, New Jersey. In 1964 she met and married Marc Konvisser, a student, and later professor, of mathematics at Ohio State University. He currently designs software.

The mother of two sons, Aaron, 46 and Joshua, 44, Dr. Konvisser’s amazing range of activities include serving on the National Commission of American Jewish Women and on the boards of several community philanthropic and professional organizations.

Having two sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren leaves little time and energy for this amazing woman to also serve on the international board of the Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma. It was her scholarly and highly sensitive career course that led Dr. Konvisser to the research work for Living Beyond Terrorism, in which she examines terror’s impact on the victims and their families.

Her conclusion? Traumatic experiences can have a beneficial impact if positively channeled.

What better proof do we need than the recent war with Hamas in Gaza, dubbed “Operation Protective Edge,” that transformed the pain and suffering of three families into a sense of unparalleled unity and outpouring of love of the entire nation of Israel?

After all, the nation of Israel has lived beyond terrorism all along, and the tales of war, the tales of our soldiers on the frontlines and their families are indeed, as in Zieva’s words, Israeli Stories of Hope and Healing. Dr. Zieva Konvisser’s magnum opus is a perfect analysis not only of Israel’s history, but also of Israel’s soul.

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