Sir Afilonius Rex and Editorial Team

New Jersey and Toledo (Spain), 25th November 2025

Surveying the Estate

The trauma and post-traumatic stress from the Holocaust and historical pogroms profoundly influence many non-religious (secular) pro-Zionists today. This manifests itself as mechanisms like inter-generational trauma, collective memory, and a deep-seated sense of vulnerability tied to Jewish identity. This isn’t limited to religious observance; Judaism often functions as an ethnic and cultural heritage. Situations in which historical persecutions shape worldviews even among atheists or agnostics. Here’s a breakdown of why this persists and affects them so significantly.

Inter-generational Trauma Transmission

The trauma from the Nazi Holocaust was passed down in multiple ways. Centuries of pogroms across Europe and the Middle East also left their mark. It was passed down biologically, psychologically, and socially. Studies show epigenetic changes. These are alterations in gene expression that do not change the DNA sequence. They can occur in the offspring of survivors. This leads to heightened stress responses, anxiety, or depression.

Note: Epigenetic. Relating to changes, especially heritable changes, in the characteristics of a cell or organism. These changes result from altered gene expression or other effects. These do not involve changes to the DNA sequence itself.