Posted by Marjie Sokoll

My colleague Isa Ebowe is still in Malawi, using his vacation time to visit HIV/AIDS orphans in Malawi. I had given Isa some information about the biblical story of Miriam, to bring hope to the children. (Read a previous blog post about Isa's trip.)

Isa sent me an email about his trip so far, saying that Miriam's story brought not only hope but laughter, peace, and happiness to men, women, and children in the village he's visiting. (Watch the video.)

An elderly widow who lost her husband to HIV/AIDS and suffers from the disease herself said, "I have not laughed this hard in a long time. I am happy."

I also shared a Hebrew song with Isa, called "Hevenu Shalom Alechem." Isa taught this song, which is a message of hope and peace, to the people in the village. He said they were ecstatic and enthusiastic about the music. (Watch the video.) On his way out of the village in the evening, he heard children singing the song.

Marjorie U. Sokoll, MEd., director of Jewish Life and Healing, is the founder and director of JF&CS Jewish Healing Connections, which helps ensure that people feel a sense of connection when facing the challenges of illness, loss, or isolation by offering spiritual and communal supports to foster hope, comfort, and wholeness guided by Jewish tradition. "It is not good for people to be alone." (Genesis 2:18)