Last week Scott spoke with Rabbi Shalom Hammer about the changes that he feels we must make in order for Israeli society to better deal with mental illness in general, and suicidal ideation in particular. This week he spoke with Rabbi Hammer again, and they had a very difficult and emotional – but important – conversation. Rabbi Hammer’s daughter Gila died by suicide almost two years ago; they will be commemorating her passing on chet kislev, which this year falls out on the twelfth of November. He offers his personal insights on dealing with grief, relating to the rest of the children after the death of a child, how it affected his faith in G-d, what has been helpful and hurtful, the process of moving forward, and more.
If you would like to contribute – in Gila’s memory – to help Rabbi Hammer break stigmas in mental health, please click on www.jgive.com/new/en/usd/donation-targets/58560.
Please also visit the following sites to hear more from Rabbi Hammer and to reach out to him:
www.rabbihammer.com/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5oWx1lIrrjkaNs9R8KtjA
www.facebook.com/rabbihammer
www.instagram.com/rabbihammer/
Please listen to and share the podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
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Music: “Happy Rock” by bensound.com