Tzeela Gez was murdered in a shooting attack near the community of Bruchin in Samaria, while on her way to give birth. The terrorist who opened fire was killed in an IDF operation, and two others were arrested for questioning. The shocking attack left the nation in mourning, but from that darkness began to shine a powerful light—a light that Tzeela herself had left behind.
Leaving a Lasting Mark
Leah Tiferet, who encountered Tzeela Gez’s teachings, decided to compile and share some of her words in her memory.
“Her words reached me at exactly the moment I needed them,” she said. “I first saw you in your videos, and I know you’re up there, hearing me.”
Her words continue to resonate: in shared posts, in videos passed between groups, in quiet conversations among women who never knew each other—and suddenly feel connected.
Seeing the Good
During the days of the Omer count, Tzeela z”l spoke about its deeper meaning and what it can teach us about relationships.
She explained that improving our relationships starts with cultivating positive thinking and recognizing the complexities within every connection. She drew from Kabbalistic ideas, especially the concepts of Yesod and Tiferet.
Yesod represents the need for deep and ongoing connection—like a root that grounds us in reality and sustains continuity.
Tiferet reflects the integration of Chesed (unbounded giving) with Gevurah (setting healthy boundaries).
When these two qualities come together, they create a dynamic that she likened to an “inner womb”—soft and nurturing within, yet resilient and protective on the outside. This, she said, is the foundation of a strong, balanced relationship.
According to her, a good relationship is built on emotional depth, combining consistency and effort with kindness and full-hearted giving.
WATCH:
A Life of Giving and Love
Tzeela dedicated her life to helping others. She was a therapist who worked with people coping with anxiety and trauma. With both professional knowledge and extraordinary sensitivity, she helped countless individuals navigate emotional, psychological, and relationship challenges.
She didn’t just offer treatment—she left behind a path. Her words, her insights, and her healing tools remain available to all. Through them, she continues to call on us to truly live: to pause, to feel, and not to be afraid of pain.
For those who knew her, this is her legacy. For those who didn’t, it is an invitation. Here are a few of the tools she left behind.
A Simple Exercise for Connection
A small and simple exercise that can create a meaningful shift in a relationship: recall a positive moment from your relationship and hold onto that memory while doing the “butterfly hug”—gently tapping your shoulders in alternating rhythms.
This technique helps the brain store positive experiences and reinforces their emotional impact.
The Power of Positive Thinking
Beyond her focus on relationships, Tzeela z”l emphasized the importance of positive thinking as a foundation for a happier life. She believed that positive thinking doesn’t mean ignoring problems—it means learning to see reality in all its shades.
She taught others to recognize black-and-white thinking and instead become aware of the many shades of gray in between.
WATCH:
We Are Allowed to Be Happy
Another one of Gez’s central ideas dealt with coping with suffering and hardship. She explained that while suffering is a part of life, it doesn’t have to control us.
She believed that change begins with small acts of self-care—carving out brief moments in our day just for ourselves, because “we are allowed to feel good.” This shift in mindset can help us view suffering as something we can face, not a life sentence.
In one of her videos, she said with quiet courage:
“We don’t choose our suffering, but we can choose what we do with it. Do something good for yourself—and then the suffering can change. It can move.”
Don’t Stay in the Darkness
“Surround yourself with light. Because honestly, we are all light. That’s how we were created. The goal isn’t to stay in the darkness—but to pass through it, so we can reach the light,” she wrote in one of her posts.
It’s almost surreal to read those words now. But maybe that’s the choice we have—to take her words, her path, and breathe life into them.
Finding an Anchor
In one of her videos, Tzeela speaks gently to anyone feeling overwhelmed.
“The thoughts jump and push one another,” she says. “The world feels too big, and I just want a little quiet.” Then, in a calm and embracing tone, she invites us to pause for a moment—and use the body as an anchor.
She offers a simple breathing technique: box breathing. Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and wait for four. A short cycle you can do even without anyone noticing.
“Try five rounds,” she says. “You’ll already start to feel better.”
Her words may be simple, but their impact is deep. A small breath, a quiet moment—a reminder that even in all the noise, there’s still a calm place within us.
WATCH:
Her Legacy
Tzeela z”l, who saw every pain as an opening for healing, who gently laid out the path for growing through crisis—she was the one taken in a senseless, violent attack. It’s an unbearable paradox, but it also carries a message we cannot ignore: to turn her life into a seed of healing.
To keep spreading her light in the face of darkness. To choose good, even when it would be easier to break. The darkness must not win. Tzeela left behind a path—and powerful tools for a life of meaning.
