Mother Turns Grief Over Infant Daughter's Death Into Life's Mission
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Avishag Salomon transformed the grief from her infant daughter Chaya Mushka's death into a life mission. She found spiritual solace and interpreted the loss as a divine mission, not punishment. Salomon became involved with the school named after her daughter, eventually managing it, and now dedicates her life to this work and inspiring others. She views her daughter's memory as the source of her current purpose and strength.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avishag Salomon found spiritual strength and purpose after her infant daughter Chaya Mushka's death.
- She interprets her daughter's short life as a divine mission for spiritual correction.
- Salomon became the manager of the Beit Chaya Mushka school, named after her daughter.
- She teaches her children that faith and grief can coexist.
- The loss inspired spiritual commitments in others, including three friends observing Shabbat.
- Salomon views her daughter as the source of her current life mission and identity.
Avishag Salomon shared her profound personal journey of transforming immense grief into a source of strength, comfort, and purpose following the death of her infant daughter, Chaya Mushka. In an interview, Salomon recounted the devastating moment she was told something was wrong with her four-month-old baby, realizing instantly that her daughter had passed away. Despite the unfathomable pain, she found herself uttering words of faith and love, feeling an "unusual spiritual closeness" and divine presence amidst her despair.
Salomon explained her spiritual interpretation of the loss, rejecting the notion of punishment and instead viewing her daughter's short life as a divine mission. She believes she was chosen to bring Chaya Mushka into the world with purity and to help her soul complete its "tikkun" or spiritual correction. This perspective, while not erasing the pain of absence, allowed her to move forward.
She described the challenge of explaining her daughter's death to her other children, using concepts they understood from their religious education. To her eldest, she explained that Chaya Mushka's soul came to the world for a brief time to complete a correction, and that they too were privileged to help facilitate this. She also emphasized the importance of not hiding the pain from her younger children, allowing them to see her cry from longing while still maintaining faith.
The loss profoundly changed Salomon's life direction, leading her to leave her previous work for something more meaningful. She became deeply involved with the school named after her daughter, "Beit Chaya Mushka," eventually taking on its management. This role has become a central part of her life's mission, allowing her to witness the ripple effects of her daughter's soul.
Salomon also shared how others were inspired by Chaya Mushka's memory, with three friends committing to observe Shabbat. Looking back ten years later, Salomon doesn't claim the pain has vanished but emphasizes her choice to focus on the "gifts" that emerged from the loss, including her mission, her educational work, and her ability to strengthen others. She credits her daughter for shaping who she is today, dedicating her life and actions to her memory.