In the darkest place imaginable, four men discovered that gratitude can keep you alive.

This episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah begins not in ancient text, but underground—inside the testimony of former hostage Eli Sharabi, who describes a ritual he and three others created in captivity: every night, they forced themselves to name one good thing that happened that day. Not because it felt true—but because without gratitude, hope would die.

Key Takeaways

1. Gratitude isn't a feeling—it's a practice
2. Jethro's greatest gift wasn't law—it was blessing
3. Saying it out loud is how we stay human

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction: The Power of Gratitude [02:04] Elie Sarabi's Story of Survival [03:05] The Ritual of Thanksgiving [06:24] Jethro's Blessing and Its Significance [09:45] The Concept of Blessings in Judaism [13:24] Voice Gift Play: A New Way to Share Stories [14:27] The Importance of Verbalizing Gratitude [27:31] Finding the 'Why' in Survival [30:52] Conclusion: The Secret to Survival

Links & Learnings

Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/

Sefaria Source Sheet: https://voices.sefaria.org/sheets/705869

Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/