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It’s been a whirlwind — Sukkos preparations carried on with the hum of a possible hostage deal in the background. We shopped, cooked, built, and decorated our sukkah as usual, all while wondering where the negotiations would lead.

Nadav Nun and Nadav Shin – that’s how Nadav Elchanan Knoller and Nadav Schwartz were known in preschool. The first letters of their last names, nun and shin, helped tell them apart. But to everyone else, they were simply “the Nadavs”: a team, a friendship that lasted more than 25 years.

When I entered Kever Rachel this week, I sensed right away that this visit would be different. Though it wasn’t yet Aseres Y’mei T’shuvah, the Elul crowds were growing as Rosh HaShanah drew closer. We managed to squeeze into the under-construction parking lot and headed inside.

Chavie’s grandmother survived the Holocaust with only a quarter of one kidney, which caused her great suffering. As a result, kidneys were a frequent topic of conversation in Chavie’s upbringing.

The beginning of the school year was always an exciting time. There was always a slight letdown when vacation ended, but the air was filled with anticipation. School supplies. Markers. Bic pens. Colorful notebooks. New shoes. The thrill of moving up a grade. I was no longer a lowly (fill-in-the-blank)th grader. I was someone big, someone who deserved respect.

Labor is supposed to move forward, but for us, it felt like going in circles. Contractions. Hospital drive. Intake nurse. Examination. Verdict: “You’re not in labor. Come back when you are.” Repeat. Over and over again, this was the exhausting loop my daughter, son-in-law, and I were caught in for days.