Creative Contest Winners

Melanie Goldberg Silver
Melanie Goldberg Silver
Melanie Goldberg Silver is an attorney. She lives with her husband and daughter in Riverdale.
Melanie Goldberg Silver
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The following painting was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: College and Up. Message from The Artist: This painting was made during a particularly difficult time in my life. I tried to inspire hope for myself – by using the psalm that means “what’s planted with Read More …

Barak Hagler
Barak Hagler is an Elizabeth, New Jersey native who recently graduated Yeshiva University with a B.A. in Economics. Professionally, he is an aspiring actuary but loves creative activities like reading as writing (as incongruous as that may sound). Barak is also a huge sports fan (Yankees and Nets in particular) and in a parallel universe would be a sports broadcaster. He writes on mental health because he wants to help people realize that grappling with mental health is as normal and human as breathing.
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The following poem was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: College and Up. Message from the Author: While the inspiration for this piece was someone who deals with obsessive thoughts and compulsions, the message is universal. We all want to get better, and we all want Read More …

Gabe Gross
Gabe Gross
Hi! My Name is Gabe Gross. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio but moved to Houston, Texas my senior year of high school. I recently finished two years of learning at Yeshivat Orayta and am excited to continue my education at Yeshiva University next year.
Gabe Gross
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The following Chabura was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: College and Up. Introduction from the Chabura Leader: Mental health has always been a big part of who I am (for better and for worse). As a result, I wanted to insert that part of me Read More …

Anonymous Female
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The following poem was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: high school. Message from the author: Trapped is a poem discussing the feelings of depression one faces and how one feels trapped within themselves Barely Breathing: suffocationA silent stone in jailThey won’t put me on probationI Read More …

Talya Wittenberg
Talya graduated high school this past year and is headed off to Israel for a gap year. She is open with her struggles with mental health with the hope of encouraging others to speak up and get the help they deserve.
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The following piece was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: High School. It has been lightly edited.    Prompt: A substantial percentage of childhood is spent in the classroom. What can our educational institutions do to improve our mental health and well being?     The world Read More …

Yehudis Modes
Yehudis Modes
Yehudis is a vibrant young adult from Brooklyn, NY who is passionate about bringing awareness to mental illness and mental health issues. She believes that reducing the stigma starts here and now - with herself! She runs an active playgroup where she enjoys watching children thrive and grow. Through her work, she has seen the value of getting back up after every fall. Yehudis uses words, language, and writing to help sort out her thoughts and feelings and has self-published many of her poems. She has been diagnosed with C-PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, BPD and EDNOS. Yehudis has had her journey of fighting against therapy and her “need” for therapy, although with much perseverance and determination she prevailed.
Yehudis Modes
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The following slideshow which depicts what it feels like to have depression was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: College And Up           Please click here to read other pieces pertaining to depression MAKE YOUR DIFFERENCE: CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A PIECE TO OUR BLOG  

anonymous
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The following piece was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: High School. It has been lightly edited.    Message from the Author: This poem is about the impact a short message or real interaction can have and what looking behind the mask of another person can Read More …

anonymous
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The following piece was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: High School. It has been lightly edited.      I look just like you.   But I am living in a different world than you. I live in the world of OCD.   You sit next Read More …

Milaine Grossbard
Milaine Grossbard
Milaine Grossbard loves finding creative ways to express to others what it’s like to raise two special needs children. She dislikes cooking but her hobbies are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She uses humor to make people laugh.
Milaine Grossbard
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The following poem was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: College and Up. It has been lightly edited.      My Son   My Son you came in this world giving us so much joy   Your future flashed before my eyes, my sweet little baby Read More …