10/29/2023
Three weeks since Simchas Torah, and while we're getting back into our regular routines, things are far from normal. The weight of what happened, the heartbreak from the massacre, feels both overwhelming and distant, as we haven't really had a moment to process all the grief with everything that's happened since, not to mention our concerns for the safety of our loved ones and ourselves in Israel and beyond. It feels like we've woken up in a new, frightening world that we don't quite recognize. נִבְהֲלָה נַפְשֵׁנוּ מֵרוֹב עִצְּבוֹנֵנוּ. It's okay to admit that we're not okay, and it's completely human to feel this way given everything we're going through.
If you're feeling out of sorts, struggling to sleep, or finding it hard to concentrate, know that you're not alone. These are normal responses to the world we're currently navigating. Give yourself some grace. When those feelings of fear, sadness, or frustration bubble up, lean into them. They're just signals of how you're processing everything. But, if we don't address them, they might just pop up when we least expect, like during dinner with the family. Remember to dig deep for patience and kindness — both for yourself and others. We're all doing our best in these trying times, and sometimes that means taking things one step at a time.
