This year the secular calendar and the Hebrew calendar align in a way it has only a handful of times over the past…27 years. I have shared my story a few times publicly over the past 5.5 years. I have had 9862 days. 27 years to work on my healing, and I continue to heal. Trauma, for many survivors, is not far below the surface.

It has been 167 days. 167 days since October 7th, 167 since the world has turned upside down, again. Over the past 167 days, I have heard the stories, read the news, and felt the despair; yet I have been very guarded and careful not to spiral, not to lose the work I have done in the previous 9,695 during these last 167 days. I have my mental health and my family I am responsible for thinking about.

However, an opportunity presented itself on Wednesday evening. I participated in Svivah’s program “HerTorah: Strength Through Togetherness” So much has been awful since October 7th…Wednesday night was a gift, an opportunity to experience Jewish learning, unity, and a sense of community that I have not felt in decades…all trauma-informed – all thanks to Svivah and their beautiful (inside and out) leadership. If you have a moment or are in need of taking a moment, Svivah is sharing that give through the recorded version in the link above.

This Purim begins after Shabbat ends tomorrow night, it will be 168 days after a new hell began for so many, please take the time to be kind to yourself, do something kind for others, go out, and be the kindness this world needs. If you pray, please pray for the return of our hostages, please pray for the continued strength of those who are working tirelessly around the clock to make sure the victims’ voices are heard (h/t Sheila, Mer, Guila, Ron to name a few), especially those victims who have been terrorized and re-terrorized by sexual violence, please pray that the world can wipe out Hamas as we did Haman, please pray that all of god’s children will soften their hearts, that we will all be able to live in peace.

May those who need our prayers, wherever they may be in this world, feel our prayers and know they are not alone.

Esther Danit bat Yitzchak Yisrael v’ Devorah Batyah