Kayla* was hesitant to reach out to Amudim; but her best friend had spent years watching the dysfunction that existed in Kayla’s home, and she finally convinced Kayla that she didn’t have to live that way.

No one reacts to any given event in the same way; everyone has been dealt a hand in life that involves challenges; and all people are entitled to support with whatever difficulty they are facing.

It wasn’t all that long ago that Purim was that long-awaited day where you got to dress up in costume, enjoyed the whirlwind of activity with your friends and relatives and got to indulge in a lot more candy than usual.

We have seen how drugs can destroy a person’s life. But Amudim is fighting this battle daily to help those who need support in freeing themselves from addiction.

People face all too many challenges and pain every day; and while resilience can be found in the worst of circumstances, without any support, it is almost impossible for someone to fight past the hand he/she has been dealt. Amudim is here to ensure that every individual knows that there is someone who cares and is happy to provide resources and assistance.

All trauma leaves scars, whether physical, emotional, or a combination of the two. The mind and body will eventually let us know in a myriad of ways that something is wrong, even if the causes are deeply buried.

To quote the great sage Hillel, “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?” While there are numerous interpretations of this idea and it certainly does not convey the idea that a person should be selfish, it does represent the essential concept that there is a healthy space to be found between taking care of our own needs and helping others.

As Kayla* was approaching the end of her junior year of high school, she began suffering first from minor breakdowns that eventually escalated to psychotic episodes. She had struggled with mental health challenges for several years; but the situation had worsened...

So many of us strive for perfection and feel mixed emotions of guilt or shame when we don’t reach our self set goals. But sometimes, that need can represent a more significant issue that must be addressed.

Zev* is a 33 year-old with a successful and flourishing career. That has been his focus since graduating college; and he recently made the significant move from the East coast, where he grew up, to the Midwest, to pursue a new job opportunity.

It had been many years since Avi* spoke of the sexual abuse he had experienced as a teenager; he assumed that with time the wounds would heal. At 33 years of age he reached out for help after experiencing bouts of anxiety and panic attacks.

This week’s story is one of a child in crisis due to prior abuse, and how it affected the entire family. Read about how they reached out for help, healed as individuals and as a family unit, and where they are today.