Mrs. Chaya Leah Rothstein Author of Welcome to Our Jewish HomeMrs. Chaya Leah Rothstein is a beloved first-grade morah and the busy mother of a large family, k”ah. Previous responsibilities notwithstanding, when her mother began to show signs of dementia, she stepped up to the plate to care for her with utmost sensitivity, honor and respect. Eventually, the Rothsteins built an extension on to their home and brought their mother/grandmother to live with them.  As she cared for her mother with singular dedication, Chaya Leah found herself grieving for the mother she once had but was now slipping away.  When her mother was niftar, the intensity of emotions Chaya Leah felt surprised her, as she thought she had already grieved for the loss of her mother. But grief does strange things to a person. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Mrs. Shaindel SimesTeacher and author of The Rolling Rabbi When life throws us punches, we can make a conscious decision: will we bow to them or roll with them? The Simes family chose to roll with them.On that fateful summer day, as Rabbi Simes stood davening minchah, no one could have known that this would be the last time he would stand on his own feet. That evening, a terrible car accident turned his family’s life upside down. With Hashem’s kindness, everyone survived, most with only light injuries – except for Rabbi Simes. The young father and lecturer was severely injured. And life for the Simes family would never be the same.Rabbi and Mrs. Simes rose above their incredible challenges, and for several years, Rabbi Simes became “the Rolling Rabbi.” In his new capacity, he continued to teach and inspire. Unfortunately, he eventually succumbed to his injuries, and Mrs. Simes now carries on his legacy.With this podcast, you will be inspired and awed at how a family is able to embrace life, laugh and lovingly accept extremely challenging circumstances.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Mrs. Mindy Blumenfeld, LCSWMrs. Mindy Blumenfeld is positive and upbeat. She is smiley, and she makes you smile.You would never know that she lost her youngest son Hillel to cancer. Although she hasbeen profoundly impacted by her loss, she won’t let the pain bring her down intonegativity.She started writing about Hillel as a means of finding comfort. But really, her journeywith writing about her son began with the puppets she created when Hillel was firstdiagnosed at age six. Faced with the challenge of keeping him occupied during difficulttreatments, she created cute little puppets. These whimsical characters not onlyprovided a distraction for Hillel but also became a source of comfort throughout hisbattle, even during his relapse at the age of eleven and his subsequent years of illnessuntil he succumbed at age sixteen.While initially crafted for one young child, these puppets have surpassed their originalpurpose. They are now featured in a book designed to teach children about facingchallenges, and surprisingly, they have become valuable teachers for adults as well.The story of these endearing puppets has also earned a place on the Relief from Griefpodcast. Mrs. Blumenfeld's resilience and creativity shine through, turning a personal journey of pain into a story that just might make you smile.Click here to order the book https://www.israelbookshoppublications.com/store/pc/Hillel-and-the-Paper-Menschies-PRE-ORDER-29p10056.htm https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Welcome to the Relief from Grief podcast, where we talk with a broad spectrum of people about their life stories. My hope is that either you'll hear a story that is similar to your own or aspects of it that you can connect to. Even if an experience is very different from yours, perhaps you can find something within it, an element or an idea or a perspective, that really speaks to you or gives you insight into yourself. Some of the goals I hope to realize with this podcast include normalizing grief, bringing awareness to the general population and helping people recognize that certain thoughts and behaviors stem from grief. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

He was just a bachur in yeshivah going about his regular day. Then he received a call from his rebbi and regular ceased to exist. The rebbi told him his father had been in an accident and that Avram was going home. Avram felt scared, but he was sure his father would be okay. Right? I mean fathers don’t just go on business trips and die. But that is exactly what happened. And Avram had to face a whole new reality: Shabbos and yom tov without his father; making decisions about which yeshivahs to attend without his father; seeing his mother as an aching widow. Despite the challenges, he knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, living the life of an ehrliche ben Torah and filling his days with chesed. Come listen to this husband and father as he relates his struggles and growth as a boy who suddenly became an orphan. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Turned into a Widow by Terrorists Mrs. Risa Rotman Author of Terror and Emunah in Har Nof It was a calm morning, and Mrs. Risa Rotman was looking forward to catching up on housework and errands. Instead she heard sirens. Sirens she tried to ignore until she couldn’t anymore. There had been a terrible terrorist attack in the Har Nof shul, directly down the block from her house. Men who had been davening there had been killed. Risa’s husband was one of the victims. Rabbi Rotman survived the actual attack but remained in a coma for a year. Risa remained dedicated to his care until he passed away.  She learned to juggle taking care of her sick husband with the responsibilities of being a single mother. And through it all, she felt herself growing closer and closer to Hashem. She was strongly encouraged by a good friend to keep a journal. “It will help you,” she insisted. The end result of that journal is her book, Terror and Emunah in Har Nof. The book is inspiring and so is its author. Listen as she talks about the terror and trauma she lived through and grew from. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Mrs. Toby Klein Certified Life Coach Director-Little Links of Pearls As a young girl, Toby knew she was different, but she couldn’t explain how. It was just a feeling she carried around with her. In those days, the general mindset was not to tell children anything. The less they knew the better. And that’s why Toby was carrying around a secret – a secret that became a burden – and she wasn’t even sure what it was. Come listen to Toby’s story. Come hear how a picture in the attic confirmed her suspicions: her father was actually her stepfather. Her biological father had died when she was a baby. Although her relationship with her stepfather was warm and loving, she says, “I still felt a need to know where I came from. I always wanted to know more about my biological father.” Growing up in a wonderful blended family didn’t negate the reality that she was an orphan. Decades later, she still feels the pain of her loss. On this podcast she offers her insights about what life can be like for an orphan who never knew her parent.  https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Mrs. Sherri Mandell Israeli-American author, mother and activist; founder of The Koby Mandell Foundation Koby Mandell was a good boy. One day he acted a bit out of character and skipped school to hike in the canyon near his home. That decision cost him his life. Koby, just thirteen years old, was cruelly killed by Arab terrorists.  His mother Sherri had to learn how to live in a new world, a world in which her son was no longer present. The pain she experienced was intense.  In her book The Road to Resilience, Sherri teaches us that we can get through the most painful situations. It doesn’t mean we won’t feel the pain. But with the right support, we can be okay. Hear how Mrs. Sherri Mandell took her heartbreaking experience and used it as the impetus for creating the Koby Mandell Foundation. Listen as she shares how she learned to find her resilience. Be inspired at the strength that a grieving mother demonstrates.  https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Rabbi of Young Israel of Holliswood, Menahel of Telshe of Riverdale, and Ami columnist and editor He knows the pain of loss because he experienced it. As a rabbi, he frequently helps his congregants navigate loss. Although he doesn’t always know what to say in the face of others’ pain, here he offers some of the stories, insights and ideas he shares that might be helpful during your time of loss and grief.  As you listen to him speak, you will hopefully be inspired and find the strength to carry on. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

Grief When You’re Not an Aveil Mr. Meir (Donni) Silverstein, LCSW Donni Silverstein experienced multiple losses in his life. But none of the losses were any that required him to sit shivah. Still, the pain he felt was so intense. He started doubting if he was normal. His life wasn’t affected on a daily basis by these deaths. He could have gone a year without speaking to the people who had passed away. So why was he having such a strong reaction to their deaths?  Come listen as Donni shares how he learned that the loss of people from one’s childhood can be really painful. And even if his reaction was stronger than those of other members of his family, there was nothing wrong with him. Losing a childhood friend, even one with whom you spoke once a year, is a genuine loss. As Donni trained to become a licensed social worker, he gained a greater understanding of how loss affects us. And with this newfound clarity, he shares his journey of loss and healing. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/