Growing Through Post-Traumatic Stress at HaGולה Club

Idan Mor (known as “Gadi Vilcherski”), a comedian who has dealt throughout his life with complex post-traumatic stress—from childhood and from his combat service in the IDF—in a fascinating performance in which he courageously reveals his psychological struggles through comedy.

This performance is not intended only for people diagnosed with PTSD; it speaks to everyone living in Israel, especially in the aftermath of October 7. Almost everyone living in Israel is dealing either with stress—among the most severe in the world—or with anxiety, depression, or a harsh combination of all three.

We live in an extremely challenging reality, while also being expected to function as if everything is fine: working like crazy, being crushed by insane living costs, being sent to the front lines while our families on the home front are hit by missiles, terrorist attacks, Yemeni drones, and Iranian bombs.

Whether you were wounded in the army, your spirit was scarred in battle, you were at the Nova festival, you were in the Gaza-envelope communities, you were evacuated, you were held hostage, or someone dear to you took their own life—every Israeli carries a heavy burden on their shoulders!

So at least let’s stop trying so hard to look normal and start looking insanity in the eye. Let’s examine our trauma and think about how to grow from it, because it is easy to crash. Come soar together with Idan (and Gadi!).