Chosen For What?20 Nov 2025

Inherited Fear and Anxiety with Dr. Benjamin Goldstein

In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, an Israeli-Canadian physician and third-generation descendant of Holocaust survivors. Drawing from personal reflection and lived experience, Dr. Goldstein explores how inherited fear and anxiety can quietly shape family dynamics, identity, and worldview, often without being recognized until much later in life.

He shares vivid memories of his grandparents' habits (like never leaving food on the plate or clinging tightly to loved ones) that once seemed harmless but now reveal the deep imprint of survival trauma. Dr. Goldstein describes how his understanding of their fear has evolved, especially as a parent raising children in Israel.

This thoughtful conversation explores how trauma is transmitted through families, how it adapts across generations, and what it means to live with inherited vigilance in today's uncertain world. Dr. Goldstein's story is a reminder that the echoes of history are not always loud; they often live in our smallest fears, our deepest instincts, and our most protective acts of love.

Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org.

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