Once, shortly after a particularly devastating breakup, I went to a Rosh Chodesh women’s kumzitz and started crying in the middle of all the singing. One of the other women took me aside afterward and asked me what was wrong, and I told her all about it. After I had finished my story, she offered some words of advice and encouragement, then looked at me and said (this was on a motzaei shabbos), “Well, should we start our weeks?” It was such a painful, but moving experience for me– the company of other women, the beautiful song, the understanding. I don’t really remember anything this woman said to me except that last line, which made me feel like I was validated in my sadness but that I could be sad, and cry, and still continue with my everyday life. I will never forget her kindness.
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