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Yossi was thriving in his yeshiva in Florida. But like any bochur, he was ready for bein hazmanim. Within the first few days of being home, though, his father noticed that Yossi was walking strangely. And after that, things seemed to get worse and worse.

It was during COVID, and getting an appointment with a specialized pediatric neurologist was not easy. But, as only a mother can, Sarah called one doctor after another, persevering until she managed to get Yosef seen by a doctor at CHOP Hospital.

Once he was there, things declined rapidly. The diagnosis of a brain tumor was not a surprise—but what shocked everyone was how quickly Yosef was deteriorating. This young, healthy teenage boy, who had barely ever caught a cold, was suddenly losing all function.

Sarah was the most devoted mother, lovingly caring for her son through it all.

It has now been three years since his petirah. Sarah continues to work on deepening her connection to Hashem, understanding the mind-body connection, and supporting others who find themselves in harrowing situations.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

This episode begins with Miriam Ribiat sharing about her newly released book, Forever in Our Hearts.  Sarah immediately lights up. “Yes—I love that title!” she exclaims. “You see, I lost my baby. She was stillborn in my ninth month. But she’s alive forever inside of me. I light a Shabbos candle for her and bake challah l’iluy nishmas her. So yes, she may not be alive in this world, but she’s alive forever in my heart.”

Sarah opens up about her journey through pregnancy, the devastating news of a very sick baby, and her growing emunah as she faced Hashem’s plan. She speaks about the deep pain, the isolation, and the strength it took to rise again.

Listen as Sarah shares how she slowly rebuilt her connection with Hashem—one tefillah, one step, one breath at a time.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

 Gila Hammer was a bright light who drew everyone in with her warmth and kindness. When she died from suicide at just 18 years old, her father, Rabbi Shalom Hammer, founded Gila’s Way — a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and education. As Rabbi Hammer says, “The only way I know to confront death is by helping to save lives.”

In this moving episode, Rabbi Hammer shares his story — from the tragedy that changed his life to his work supporting traumatized IDF soldiers — and how he channels his pain into purpose through Gila’s Way, bringing awareness, hope, and healing to others.

To find out more about Gila's Way you can visit the website at: Gilasway.com

To speak to Rabbi Hammer or to schedule a speaking tour you can email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

The morning after her baby passed away, Yaffa looked out the window and saw the sun shining. She couldn’t understand how the sun can shine when there was an empty crib in her home and baby clothes that would never be worn again.

With time and a lot of inner work, she and her husband came to a new perspective. Yaffa describes life as an optical illusion: when you focus on only one part of the picture, it can hurt unbearably. But when you pull back and the picture shifts you can see something greater at play. Instead of feeling that they “lost” their son, they came to realize that they had gained 14 precious months with him. As Yaffa says, it is better to have had him for that time than for him never to have been born.

Today, Yaffa is an LCSW who works extensively with clients on their trauma. She shares with us how trauma affects the body and mind—and how recognizing when you’re “stuck” can be the first step toward healing. With the right communication skills and openness to accept help or support from organizations, people can move forward in ways they never imagined.

Yaffa misses her baby, who would be around 22 years old today. She feels the pain at times, but she doesn’t allow herself to stay stuck there. Instead, she chooses to look for faith and continue forward, finding the light in life even through loss.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

Devorah was just five years old when she finally became a big sister. She adored her tiny newborn sibling, swaddled in pink, and stepped naturally into the role of the best big sister.

At first, Devorah didn’t think it was unusual that her house was filled with nurses and therapists coming and going. To her, that was simply what a newborn needed. But as she grew older and noticed her friends’ relationships with their sisters, she realized that her own little sister, Chanie, was different. The things her friends did with their siblings were things she would never be able to do with Chanie—because Chanie was born with special needs.

Still, Devorah's love never dimmed. She cared for Chanie, played with her, and shared her life with her. Their bond was unshakable. When Chanie was sick and in the hospital, Devorah spent as much time by her side as she could. Chanie would call, “Devorah, when are you coming?” And Devorah always came.

Although their parents were equally dedicated, the sisterly connection between Devorah and Chanie was uniquely powerful. And when Chanie was niftar, Devorah was devastated. They may never have done the same things as other sisters, but their fierce love was beyond comparison.

Today, Devorah’s home still holds Chanie’s presence. Pictures of her sister hang on the fridge. And when Devorah lifts her baby daughter—named Chanie—she whispers, “You are named after this special sister of mine. You share her name. You have a glorious namesake.”

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

Rabbi Akiva Sutofsky was living a fulfilling life — a beloved school therapist, a devoted father, and especially close to his youngest son, Yitzy.

One day, Yitzy complained of a sore throat. When he looked in the mirror with a flashlight, he noticed a large lump. The doctor diagnosed it as an infection and prescribed antibiotics — but they didn’t help. Nor did the next round.

And so, the Sutofsky family’s routine life was turned upside down as they began the harrowing journey of cancer with their beloved son and brother, Yitzy.

Yitzy was an intuitive, kind-hearted boy who easily connected with others. The entire community rallied around him, davening with love and urgency. He celebrated his bar mitzvah in a shul in Philadelphia, not far from the hospital where he was receiving treatment. And then, he began to speak with startling spiritual clarity:

“Don’t be sad,” he would say. “My mission in this world is coming to an end. But if you ever feel down, do mitzvos and daven for my neshama. Maybe that will help ease your pain.”

Yitzy was niftar surrounded by his family. The entire community mourned with them, deeply impacted by his brief but powerful life.

In this episode, Rabbi Sutofsky shares the story of Yitzy’s illness and petirah, as well as the pain, faith, and growth that emerged from his grief.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

For many years, Rabbi Ginzberg supported families grieving the loss of a child. Then it happened to him. His daughter, Sarala, became ill and was nifteres at the age of seventeen.

He reflects on the profound difference between being a supportive spectator and becoming an active participant in grief. And yet, even in the depths of his pain, he discovered what can help ease it. Yes, he misses her deeply. Yes, he wishes she had married and built a family like her friends. But he has found ways to stay connected to her—by doing what he can for her neshamah. In some ways, he says, he feels more connected to Sarala than to his living children whom he can see and speak to.

In this episode, Rabbi Ginzberg shares how he finds nechamah through the words of gedolim and talmidei chachamim, and how we can lean into the ways our leaders have dealt with painful loss. After all, we are human and will feel the pain—but we also know that support exists in a Torahdik way.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

He was a precious little boy, born with cystic fibrosis. For nine and a half years, Aryeh Zev lived a life full of struggle — but also full of determination, and  friendship. Despite frequent hospital trips, he went to school and built strong friendships. He even had a special connection with the Ribnitzer Rebbe, who recognized the holiness of his neshamah.

Now, forty years later, Dr. Hindie M. Klein’s grandchild just got married. At the Sheva Brachos, they spoke about Aryeh Zev — because his memory is still alive. His parents never let go of their beloved son’s presence in their lives.

In this deeply honest episode, Dr. Hindie M. Klein shares how she and her husband each grieved in their own way — and how they learned to respect one another’s needs. While they were able to do big projects l’iluy nishmas their son, she reminds us that quiet acts of tzedakah or private mitzvos done at home are just as meaningful.

And if you ever want to see the shoes of a little nine-year-old boy who left a huge imprint on the world — you can knock on Dr. Klein’s door. She still knows exactly where they are.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

Adina Kaplan was best friends with Miriam Holman since they were in diapers. While they didn’t quite get along as babies, as they grew older, they became close friends, forming a strong bond that carried them through elementary school, high school, seminary, and beyond. 

When Adina was just 18 years old, Miriam was diagnosed with a terrible illness. Adina became a tremendous source of support for Miriam, helping her navigate the fears and unknown that came with her diagnosis. 

Three years after Miriam’s diagnosis, she was hospitalized, and Adina’s life changed forever. Her days revolved around Miriam’s wellbeing. She was by her side day in and day out, always trying to do more and make ease Miriam’s pain. Unfortunately, Miriam passed away a few months later, leaving Adina grieving the loss of her dearest friend. 

When Adina got married a year and a half later, it was very hard for her to process that Miriam wouldn’t be there to celebrate her big day. She couldn’t believe her husband would never meet her best friend.

Adina, along with Miriam’s family and friends, keeps Miriam’s memory alive. They talk about her, reminiscing on special times, commemorate her yahrtzeit together, and hold tight to the joy Miriam brought into the world.

Adina remains closely connected to the Holmans, and they treasure their relationship with their daughter’s dear friend.

Today, Adina runs Mayrim in Eretz Yisroel, continuing Miriam’s legacy by supporting bereaved families and helping them through their grief.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us!

"My son Zev was special." It’s a sentiment many bereaved parents will share about their child who was niftar. But Zevi wasn’t just special because of his love for people and life, his love for shul, and his intuitive, on-target perceptions. He was special because he was special needs.His mother, Miriam Kahn, dedicated her life to her beloved Zev. Whatever she could do for him, she did—and somehow, whatever she couldn’t do for him, she also did. Zev was very young when his parents divorced, but somehow, he understood that his mother could use space and love. And he gave it to her.

He wasn’t just beloved to his mother, but to his sisters as well. Zev was a valuable and delicious part of their lives. And as his sisters married and became mothers, their children were never embarrassed or uncomfortable around their Uncle Zev—because he was Zev.

When Zev was in his upper 20s, living at home wasn’t possible for him anymore. It was with great sadness and a lot of tears that she moved him into a home. But she constantly visited him and continued to shower him with love.

And now that she had some time to herself, she went on her first vacation since Zev was born. It was there, in the hotel early one morning, that she got a phone call from the home.
 They told her, “Everything is not okay.”
 “What does that mean?” Miriam yelled. “He’s okay—like alive, right?”

“I’m so sorry. A few hours ago, he was sleeping peacefully… and then he suddenly was niftar.”

My special son with special needs.
 I love him so much. I miss him so much.
 Baruch Hashem, I have grandsons named after him. He lives on in our family. In our hearts and minds, he will never die.

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG_XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA

Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]