Rabbi Yossi Rodal, a Shliach in California, originally from Milan, produced a song, titled “Dry Tears.” In this song he shares some of his feeling over the past 12 years, ever since his life has been changed forever.

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In 2006, after battling with cancer for six short months, my younger sister Reizi, passed away at the tender age of ten years old. I was twelve.

To help me navigate the inner feelings of pain, I started writing and composing. I had a lot of questions.

Time doesn’t heal, it just dries your tears.

After 13 years, I went to therapy and I finally managed to confront my twelve-year-old self and let him know that it’s ok to accept that we don’t understand, that you will never heal if you’re looking to find a reason. You just can’t see it now.

A major step in healing is acceptance. It took me ten years to go visit my sister’s grave; I thought if I denied it, she wouldn’t die. But really, once I was able to let go, I gave her new life. I learned how humans are incredibly fragile, yet resilient. We all have traumas, but we make the choice to pick ourselves up. I learned the difference between having depression and being depressed.

Six months ago, my own Baby Reizi was born.

“Dry tears” is my story.

It’s the journey I still travel every day.

I hope that by sharing it, I can help you relate to your inner 12-year-old, and tell them that you are allowed to start healing.