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In a tragic twist of fate perfect for a dark comedy sketch, Shirel Golan, a survivor of the deadly Hamas attack at the Nova music festival, transitioned from surviving terror to becoming just another statistic on her 22nd birthday. Her family learned the hard way that while there may be a plethora of dance parties for trauma support, mental health care? That’s as elusive as a good avocado in a supermarket. Spoiler alert: it often doesn’t exist.
Family drama intensified with Eyal, Shirel’s brother, recalling their valiant attempts to rescue her from the horrors of October 7—a day so chaotic that it made arriving late to a wedding seem like a minor inconvenience. After a narrow escape from a car that transformed from party mobile to murder vehicle in record time, Shirel was whisked off to safety by a police officer. Funny how a ride in a state vehicle can sometimes feel more like a missed bus. Who knew that being alive would come with such a heavy psychological toll?
Despite the family’s efforts to navigate the bureaucratic swamp for mental health assistance, Shirel’s claim to PTSD victimhood was treated like a misplaced parking ticket—slipped through the cracks of a bureaucratic abyss. Hungry for recognition (and basic human compassion), her hospitalization at Lev Hasharon was more of a pit stop than a lifeline. Who needs effective support when you can have state-approved invisibility?
Eyal didn’t mince words: “The state killed Shirel.” It’s touching, really, how a grieving brother can turn into a political commentator on demand. He implored the powers that be to wake up, perhaps suggesting that an espresso machine in their offices might facilitate some actual awareness.
In a fittingly ironic moment of timing, attendees of a Zumba fund-raiser for survivors were informed of Shirel’s passing while they danced. Nothing says “we care” like shaking your hips to the sound of tragedy unfolding—who wouldn’t want to jog off the trauma while taking a break from dealing with it? Organized by JNF-UK and led by none other than Eylon Levy, a former government spokesperson turned Zumba aficionado, the event apparently prioritized step counts over actual effectiveness in addressing mental health.
As Levy reflected on the need for civilian organizations to step up where the state decidedly stepped down, one could only imagine how he also meekly suggested that better trauma support would include free dance classes. After all, when the going gets tough, why not just have a group cardio session and call it a day? Who needs therapy when you can sweat away the existential dread? What a charming absurdity this world has become!
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