Piecing Ourselves Back Together Again: The Global Healing Blanket Launches with a Powerful Message
On a powerful evening of emotion, reflection, and artistic collaboration, more than 300 community members gathered at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles for The Art of Healing: Piecing Ourselves Back Together Again. The event, hosted by Mental Health IsReal (MHI), marked the official launch of the Global Healing Blanket, an international initiative weaving art, identity, and resilience together.
Mental Health IsReal: A Movement Rooted in Connection
Mental Health IsReal, founded by mindset trainer and motivational speaker Rona Lalezary, emerged in direct response to the October 7 attacks. The nonprofit has quickly evolved into a global movement focused on mental wellness, blending community-centered healing, creative expression, and therapeutic technology.
The night brought together a remarkable cross-section of community members, families, survivors, and public figures using their platforms to inspire healing. Among the special guests were Sharon Osbourne, Guns N’ Roses Gilby Clarke, Daniella Clarke, film producer Howard Rosenman, And Just Like That producer, Chris Collins, Debbie Peiser, Joy Sirott Hurwitz, and Tal Navarro.
Art and Sound: Pathways to Healing
Guests moved between reflective storytelling spaces of resilience to hands-on creative stations, where they poured emotion into hand-designed art squares. Nova survivor/activist Lee Sasi and the youngest ZAKA volunteer Eli Landau joined Artists and Creators of the Art Will Set You Free exhibit at the museum, Tomer Peretz, and Rona Lalezary to share messages of resilience, especially geared to the younger crowd. Next, they experienced the healing power of creating art as families, This event was a beautiful reminder that healing happens in community. Each square represented a personal journey of loss, strength, and recovery. The evening culminated in a powerful group EMDR sound therapy session, using Biotunes headphones and calming guided audio.
A Child’s Perspective Lights the Way
One of the most touching moments came from a 7-year-old participant who, after completing her square, shared:
“When I help somebody, it helps me. When other people help me, it helps them. So, we all feel better by helping.”
Stitching the Future
Through initiatives like this, Mental Health IsReal is working to reshape how Jewish communities approach emotional wellness. The Global Healing Blanket is more than fabric and thread it’s a living, growing symbol of connection and collective resilience.
A New Narrative: From Wounds to Wisdom
For the first time since the October 7 tragedy, this event marked a distinct shift and away from a narrative of victimhood, and toward one of hope and empowerment. Rather than reliving the pain, The Art of Healing focused on rebuilding through light, unity, and creativity.
By launching the Global Healing Blanket, Mental Health IsReal is helping communities process trauma through connection and purpose. This event signaled not only the start of a movement, but a transformation in how the Jewish community reclaims its voice, its spirit, and its future.
“Through my work I have seen this universal truth: the very same space that houses our greatest pain houses our greatest power.This is true as a collective as much as it is true for the individual.
And this quilt we are kicking off today is that very launching pad where we as a nation and our beautiful supporters will propel forward from the pain into power. Where we move from victim to survivor, where we grow from surviving to thriving.”
Rona Lalezary
Founder: Mental Health IsReal and The Global Healing Blanket
