When a person spirals downward, it can have a terrible ripple effect on those closest to him. And that individual may not want help to climb out of his personal abyss. Amudim cannot promise quick fixes. But we can offer what every family deserves: support and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always a path forward.
Once a quiet but engaged yeshiva student, Zevi began showing signs of emotional withdrawal and behavioral changes in his late teens. Over time, his retreat from daily life grew severe. Refusing help, resisting connection, and avoiding any conversation about his well being, Zevi eventually shut down almost completely. He spent his days doing nothing, detached and isolated.
Inside the home, silence gave way to tension. Zevi’s parents were walking on eggshells around their youngest son. They tried everything they could think of, but nothing helped. As they were getting older and their own emotional and physical needs had increased, they were exhausted and frightened. It wasn’t until a friend suggested Amudim that the family found its first glimmer of hope. Zevi’s mother reached out, nervous and uncertain what to expect. But for the first time in a long time, she felt heard.
Amudim’s case manager listened with empathy and without judgment. Together, they explored resources for the entire family, not just for Zevi. The case manager offered support group options, recommended a therapist for the parents, and spoke about some communication strategies that might allow Zevi’s mom to set healthy boundaries without guilt.
Months passed before anything shifted with Zevi. But the home atmosphere began to change. As the parents grew stronger and more grounded, the dynamic slowly shifted. Peace returned, not because Zevi had changed, but because they had. And then, recently, a quiet miracle: Zevi agreed to see a therapist.
The Amudim case manager explained what the parents had already begun to suspect-that it was the changes within them, the boundaries and the healing they pursued, that had created space for Zevi’s own steps forward.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Amudim is just a phone call away and here to help.
*Names and details have been changed to protect privacy.
Each week, Amudim fields calls covering a wide range of crises and addressing various human concerns, including addiction, depression, abuse, health and domestic emergencies and many others. We track the calls and breakdown of issues for many reasons, foremost of which is to consistently improve and strengthen our knowledge and ability to address community’s needs.
Have you ever felt like you had to make a choice no one else could make for you?
To stay stuck… or to finally turn the wheel toward something better.
Healing isn’t about perfection — it’s about coming home to who you really are.
👉 What path will you choose today?
👀 Ever notice how the black dot grabs all your attention… while the white space around it gets ignored?
That’s how challenges in life can feel. But SEL helps our children notice the good, not just the struggle.
🎥 Watch The Case for SEL in Yeshivas — and see how Torah-based Social Emotional Learning changes lives.
🔗 https://darcheinu.org/the-case-for-sel/