Sometimes you need a break, especially during a war. But it is impossible to escape a war, even during a ceasefire. It follows you wherever you go, from the moment you open your eyes in the morning until long after you close them at night. Try as you may, there’s nowhere to hide. But doing something that is not war-related or work-related can help a bit. You can take a mental health day in its truest sense. Having that goal in mind, my daughter and I headed to the Malcha Mall in Yerushalayim.
Malcha Mall is not usually on my list of favorite destinations, but there is something soothing (a word I would never in the past have used to describe walking around the mall) about engaging in a mundane activity for a change.
My daughter looked forward to the retail therapy aspect of our outing, but I was more focused on being in a light and positive atmosphere, surrounded by people having a good time. I was thrilled to run into some old-time Queens people who, like me, nostalgically look back on the good old days when life was so much simpler than it is today. Even two months ago, the world was a different place.
As my daughter and I progressed from one store to the next, I was not as bothered as I usually am by the lines and noise. Between purchases, I comfortably sat on a big massage chair to say my daily T’hilim. I wouldn’t take a break from that.
No outing of this sort would be complete without dining in a café. Our preferred café was closed, so we left the mall and went to a quiet café in the Ramada Renaissance Hotel.
Upon entering the hotel, we were welcomed by several teenage girls offering us a bag of treats. Big signs in the lobby welcoming the residents of the north made us realize that the hotel was filled with displaced families. The hotel provides rooms and food to their guests, compliments of the State of Israel, and volunteers from the outside provide them with many extras. The girls had mistaken us for evacuees. We politely thanked them and declined their offer.
During the first few days after evacuation, the hotel had been filled to capacity. The chefs prepared meals for 5,000 guests. Some guests have already left, but the hotel is still quite full. This arrangement works well for all parties: the displaced families have a safe place to live, and the hotel that would have been empty, due to the lack of tourists, now has a full house, albeit with a less profitable margin.
Walking through the lobby, we noticed people trying to live normally in an abnormal situation. Children were playing ping pong, foosball, and board games. A family celebrated with balloons, a flower bouquet, and a Hebrew rendition of Happy Birthday. A handful of chayalim relaxed together on a couch. In a corner, an older man recited p’sukim out loud with a young boy. A large group (possibly extended family or friends from a community) sat together and enjoyed each other’s company. Women huddled around a table that displayed jewelry for sale.
A young adult, a resident of Sderot before the war, was working with a group of kids on an art project. She is an art therapy student who comes to the hotel once a week to work with the young evacuees as part of her fieldwork.
A kindergarten teacher runs a gan for the little ones. The older kids go out to local schools during the day. I spoke with two women, friends from their hometown, one staying at the hotel and another staying at a hotel nearby. They are grateful for having a safe place to live, but this is not a simple time for them. They are currently looking for new work as their jobs no longer exist It can be somewhat monotonous during the day, but performers put on shows and play music at night. Volunteers try to raise their spirits and help them during this difficult time.
This is a challenging time for all citizens of Israel. In addition to the trauma of October 7, there are many secondary challenges that people are dealing with. The situation is not a one-size-fits-all. The issues that people are coping with vary. Hopefully, the support they receive will enable them to overcome their challenges over time while also appreciating the positive things (family, health, home, job, etc.) in their lives that cannot be taken for granted.
Please continue to daven for the recovery of the sick, the release of the rest of the hostages, and the safe return of all the chayalim and security forces.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
