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The moment I stepped into the annual Tzam’ah Event for Women at Binyanei HaUmah, I was enveloped by a wave of anticipation and joy. Walking past stalls selling chasidic books and even one testing for the bone marrow registry, I was drawn by the aroma of warm soups, kugels, and cholent wafting from the reception area. The hum of hundreds of conversations created an atmosphere alive with spirit and community.

Life is pretty intense these days. Our lives are filled with events and activities that evoke strong emotions; but now, an additional layer of intensity prevails.

As a nation, we navigate joy and sorrow side by side, holding conflicting emotions with remarkable grace. Even in moments of profound joy – under the chupah, as a couple begins building their bayis ne’eman b’Yisrael – the chasan breaks a glass, a poignant reminder that our happiness is incomplete until Hashem’s house, the Beis HaMikdash, is rebuilt. Sitting around our elegantly set Seder table, dressed in our finest, we eat matzah, poor man’s bread, reminding us of our bitter days in Mitzrayim.

When the war began in October 2023, no one imagined it would stretch on for 500 agonizing days. Yet here we are, still counting. Back then, people said the war might continue until December. Maybe January. To do the job properly, it would take time. We were told to have patience.

Facing an unimaginable ordeal, Sigi Cohen’s strength and unwavering emunah have recently become a source of inspiration for the community of Ramat Beit Shemesh. A former resident of the neighborhood and the mother of 27-year-old Elya, Sigi captivated the women with her heartfelt reflections as the mother of a hostage.

Standing at a wedding several weeks ago, I noticed a little redheaded boy dressed in his finest, enjoying the festivities. He appeared to be about four or five years old, the same age as Ariel Bibas, who was still in Gaza at the time. My mind was immediately filled with thoughts of Ariel and his baby brother, Kfir. It is remarkable how a family we have never met becomes part of our daily thoughts.