Spiritual Comfort: A New Bibliotherapy Approach for War-Displaced Citizens Through Bible Analysis

• In Event: Spiritual Remedies to Facilitate Educational Justice

Abstract

This study explores "Spiritual Comfort," a bibliotherapy approach using weekly Torah portions (Parashat HaShavua) to support war-displaced individuals in Israel. Guided by Husserl's phenomenological bracketing and Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory, the intervention utilized the Torah as a cultural and spiritual resource for introspection and healing. The goal was to enhance participants’ sense of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. Results showed notable improvements in psychological well-being, underscoring the effectiveness of bibliotherapy through Bible analysis as a therapeutic tool for trauma recovery and the development of a "Pedagogy of Comfort."

Author

• Zehavit Gross, Bar-Ilan University