NEW YORK (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – He has been renowned for years as the premiere arranger and transcriber in the Jewish music world, but one year after the death of his daughter Yocheved, Avremi Gourarie has also become well known as a source of support to parents of struggling children.
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Gourarie made no secret of his daughter’s suicide, his music-oriented Facebook posts taking a somber tone as he announced Yocheved’s death, funeral and shiva information on December 22nd, 2020. The 24 year old’s passing made headlines as a pre-scheduled post appeared posthumously on her Instagram bearing the words, “If you are reading this, I’m gone.”
In the months that followed, Gourarie’s social media feed became filled with inspiring messages, moments of gut-wrenching sadness and touching images of his daughter, and he shared Tik Tok videos, musical clips and other moments of Yocheved’s life.
Far from trying to hide his daughter’s eating disorder and her struggles with depression, Gourarie spoke about her mental health issues openly and campaigns inspiring people to do a good deed and highlighting the kindness of teachers sprang up in Yocheved’s memory.
Gourarie also spoke candidly about the importance of parents embracing children who are struggling on both the Meaningful People and the Hope to Recharge with Matana podcasts.
As Yocheved’s yahrtzeit drew near, Gourarie reached out to Rabbi Yakov Horowitz on Monday night for advice on a problem that someone else was dealing with. The two struck up an immediate friendship and Rabbi Horowitz asked Gourarie if he would be willing to do an interview to share his messages with an even wider audience, offering understanding and empathy to parents who are facing similar challenges with their own children.
“He really understands what people are going through,” Rabbi Horowitz told VIN News. “You can see him reading between the lines and realizing that what they want is to be validated and recognized. People should hear that there are parents who are confronting issues head on and not glossing over them and what a benefit it was to Yocheved that she was able to speak to her father openly.”
Watch below the courageous powerful interview with Rabbi Yakov Horowitz.
Thanks for sharing, mental illness is a huge elephant in the room that we need to address. I am not talking about going to counseling, but addressing the whole person and their families. While we are making some headway we desperately need more resources and support system in place. Individuals and families are affected by mental illness.
That last message is a heartbreaker.
Nebech
the saddest part of his story as so many others , that the parents did everything right and as yocheved ends her letter there was nothing you can do …
that is the true message that despite the embracing the illness can be an even bigger devil – which is a fact so many ” ACTVISTS ” wont admit – tehei misasa kapara
Based on many of these comments, it’s evident that we, as a community, still have a long way to go. Mental illness is a real illness. There is treatment, but yes, sometimes people die from it. Same with any ‘curable’ cancer. Some patients still die, even if it has a 97% curability rate. Do you blame those patients from the 3% group, or their family members? No! You are grateful that the person had close family surrounding them for the duration of the illness.
What a tremendous parent full of emunah and strength after going through such a huge tragedy.
May you only have nachas and simchas.
The non Tzineus pictures are definitely not good for her neshama. Don’t understand why ppl close to her would post it
Not to judge anyone but what is this supposed to mean “what a benefit it was to Yocheved that she was able to speak to her father openly” she committed suicide, hardly any benefit