-
NEW! Get email alerts when this author publishes a new articleYou will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile pageYou will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page
- Website
- RSS
Surviving the Darkness: Suicidal Thoughts, Trauma, and Hope After October 7th
This week, we marked the first anniversary of the October 7th atrocities, a day that shook our souls to their core. It was a day of unimaginable horror, and now, as we enter Yom Kippur, we are reminded once more of the fragility of life, the depth of human pain, and the power of redemption. Yom Kippur is a time for reflection, for coming to terms with our flaws, grief, and hopes. As we read the story of Jonah, we are invited to think about how his journey mirrors the struggles many of us—and those we love—are facing right now.
October 7th left scars that can’t be seen but are felt deeply. Over the past year, I’ve spoken to many people who are wrestling with suicidal thoughts in the aftermath of that day, people who feel trapped in their pain, unsure of how to go on. The weight of trauma is heavy, and for some, it can feel unbearable. But as we approach Yom Kippur and read the story of Jonah, we are reminded that even in the darkest of times, there is hope.
Jonah’s story may resonate with many of us on a deeper level, especially in times of hardship. Hashem sends Jonah on a mission to the people of Nineveh, asking him to guide them toward change. But Jonah, consumed by fear and doubt, feels overwhelmed and runs away, just as we might when faced with something we believe we can’t handle. He boards a ship, hoping to escape from Hashem and his responsibility. Yet, the storm that follows is relentless, as though the very forces of nature mirror Jonah’s inner turmoil. Realizing he can no longer run, Jonah, filled with guilt and despair, tells the crew to cast him into the sea. There, swallowed by a great whale, Jonah is plunged into total darkness for three long days.
In this moment, Jonah feels completely alone, lost in both the physical and emotional darkness. It is the most painful, seemingly hopeless moment of his life. And yet, in the depths of that darkness, Jonah finds the strength to pray. Not because he knows what will happen next or believes everything will be okay, but because he finds the courage to face his fear and pain in that desperate moment. His prayer is a reflection of his vulnerability and his hope, however fragile it may feel. After that deep reflection, the whale releases Jonah, returning him to dry land. He is given another chance—not just at life, but at understanding his strength and purpose. Jonah’s journey, like many of ours, reminds us that even in our bleakest moments, renewal is possible.
Jonah’s time in the whale can feel similar to the emotional darkness many people face after experiencing deep trauma. For those affected by the horrors of October 7th, this past year may have felt like being trapped in a whale—isolated, lost in grief, and unable to see a way out. But just as Jonah’s time in the whale was not the end of his story, so does this darkness not need to be the end of anyone’s story.
Many people who lived through that day are not only struggling with despair and hopelessness; they are also burdened with an immense sense of survivor’s guilt. “Why me? Why did I survive when others didn’t?” haunts so many. They feel the weight of their survival as if it were a punishment, not a gift, and they struggle to see how they can go on living when so many others are lost. This guilt is a form of pain that can be incredibly isolating, making it hard for people to reach out for help. And yet, in that isolation, there is an opportunity to confront the guilt, just as Jonah confronted his own fear and despair in the belly of the whale.
Jonah’s story teaches us that even in our darkest moments, even when we feel swallowed by guilt, grief, and thoughts of hopelessness, there is still a path forward. The whale that swallowed Jonah was not a punishment—it was a life support system. In the depths of that darkness, Jonah found the space to reflect, to reconnect with himself, and find a way forward. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen instantly, but Jonah emerged from that darkness with a new sense of purpose and the strength to continue.
For those feeling overwhelmed by survivor’s guilt or suicidal thoughts, it is crucial to remember that darkness, while suffocating, can also be a space for healing. The pain of trauma, the guilt of survival, and the deep sadness that follows loss are real and valid, but they don’t have to define the rest of your life. Just as Jonah was given a second chance, so too can you allow yourself the opportunity to heal, grow, and live in a way that honors your own life and the lives of those you’ve lost.
As a community, we must be there for those struggling. We must offer them compassion, not judgment; love, not indifference. We must create spaces where people feel safe to discuss their pain and share their burdens without fear of rejection. And for those in the depths of despair, we must remind them that they are not alone, that their lives have value, and that there is hope, even when it feels out of reach.
If you are someone who feels swallowed by darkness right now, please know that your pain is real, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Like Jonah, you can find your way out of the whale. You can find your way back to life, even if it feels impossible. There is light at the end of this darkness, and you deserve to see it. You deserve to live.
This Yom Kippur, as we reflect on our own lives and the lives of those we’ve lost, let us also reflect on the importance of supporting one another. Let us reach out to those who are struggling and remind them that their survival is not a burden but a gift. Like Jonah, we all have the capacity for transformation, even in the darkest times. And like Jonah, we all deserve the chance to live, heal, and find our way back to the light.
As we commemorate the first anniversary of October 7th and observe Yom Kippur, may we remember that even in our most painful moments, there is always the possibility of renewal. Let us be there for one another, offering support, love, and compassion, and let us walk together out of the darkness into the light of healing and hope.
Related Topics