Gila's Story: A Father's Mission to Save Lives
Meaningful People
Meaningful Minute
4.8 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 13 September 2025
⏱️ 71 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this deeply moving conversation, Rabbi Hammer opens up about his daughter Gila—her vibrant spirit, her struggles following a traumatic assault, and the painful journey that led to her tragic passing. He shares stories of Gila's infectious joy, her kindness, and her larger-than-life presence, as well as the challenges she faced when navigating pain and despair.
Through this heartfelt interview, Rabbi Hammer reflects on the importance of open dialogue about mental health and suicide prevention. He speaks about the founding of Gila's Way, an organization dedicated to raising awareness, educating communities, and providing support for families in crisis.
This discussion is not only a tribute to Gila's memory but also a powerful call to action: to break the stigma, to listen more deeply, to validate the struggles of those around us, and to never ignore the signs of someone in pain.
More information can be found here: https://gilasway.com/
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. You are not alone.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The majority of people who die from suicide do not want to die. |
| 0:04.0 | They don't know how to rid themselves of their pain. |
| 0:06.0 | And Gila was in a terrible pain. |
| 0:08.0 | She was suffering internally. |
| 0:10.0 | She found herself in a very dark place. |
| 0:13.0 | Slowly but surely, things unraveled. |
| 0:16.0 | Gila was amazingly rambunctious, active, adventurous, hilarious. |
| 0:23.6 | She was the kind of person who left an impression on people, and usually if people met her, |
| 0:28.6 | they would not forget her. |
| 0:30.6 | This is Arbigh Shalom Hammer. |
| 0:32.6 | In 2019, he lost his daughter Gila to suicide after she experienced abuse. |
| 0:36.6 | In this conversation, Arby Hammer shares her story, the warning signs that were overlooked |
| 0:41.3 | and the urgent lessons every parent, teacher, and friend need to hear. |
| 0:45.3 | Suicide can be prevented, but prevention begins with listening, with noticing and refusing to let silence win. |
| 0:51.3 | By Hammer's story is deeply personal, but it's also a call to action. |
| 0:56.0 | A reminder that every statistic is a face, a family, and a life in the balance. |
| 1:02.0 | She went to a therapy group in the hospital in Jerusalem, |
| 1:05.0 | and it was together with 11 other teens. |
| 1:08.0 | During the break, when they had a 10-minute recess, Gila went over to the psychologist |
| 1:12.3 | and said, can I go downstairs and smoke a cigarette? It is clear to me. What she was saying to that |
| 1:18.7 | psychologist is, don't let me go. Hold on to me. Tell me that you won't let me go. Demonstrate |
| 1:25.9 | concern. Gila did not go downstairs to smoke the cigarette. Quick 30 seconds. We place a trigger warning on this episode. Sensitive topic is discussed here. So heads up about that. And we're going to give a big thank you to my friends at Colel Khabad. Download a pushka app right now at pushka. Atcqa.c.c.4. Sash Meaningful and start giving Siddaka right now in your pocket. |
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