"Triumph of Spirit" recounts highlights from her book Who By Fire, and incorporates three main themes: Appreciation of Life, Trust in the Almighty, and Chesed  Chaya Malka first vividly relates the powerful story of a gas explosion and fire in her home in the Old City of Jerusalem, the details of her escape and rescue of her three children and grandmother. We hear how she gradually becomes aware of the life threatening extent of her injuries over the course of the months of her recovery.  She recounts the seemingly insignificant acts of kindness that had a deep emotional impact on her and helped her to heal. We also hear about the sensitivity of her caregivers and self-sacrifice of those close to her who gave of themselves without letting Chaya Malka know of burdens they assumed.The force that drove her to recovery was the

realization that the most important thing in her world was her desire to return to her family, to be a wife to her husband and mother to her children. To this end, her prayers were answered. 

This speech is a story unto itself, yet Chaya Malka draws in comparable acts kindness, faith and family that support and deepen the points she expresses so powerfully.

"The Miracle of Listening" shows how love blossoms through the powerful tool of listening. Since her book's release, Chaya Malka has found that her story, once one family's personal challenge, has become the inspiration for Jews in difficult situations around the world.
 
“I was asked to speak in New York for some two to three thousand people…I wasn't an experienced speaker, but I decided to do it anyway.  At the end of the evening, many ladies came up to me and asked me all sorts of questions… People also began to cry to me and relate their own stories, and I wasn't sure how to console them and talk to them.  I was never trained to be a professional counselor."

During the last 12 years, as she spoke publicly about her story, people sought her out to share their own tragic stories.  Chaya Malka became an experienced listener and has developed many insights and tools to hone her listening skills, which she shares in this talk.

It was, and continues to be, in her own home that she found the greatest challenges in developing and applying her skills.  She learned how thoughtful, generous listening to her husband and ten children reaped great rewards in those relationships.   These are the stories that will penetrate your heart and leave a lasting desire to connect to those closest to you. Through giving time without agenda, listening and understanding beyond the words spoken to the innermost feelings and worries of those precious to us, we create a two-way path to Love.

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"How Chesed Can Save a Life" recounts personal stories that heighten our awareness of the far reaching impact carried in each act of kindness we do.The Imrei Emes comments that through kindness, we can actually change the manner in which Hashem relates to us. By acting mercifully ourselves, we can transform His Judgment into acts of Mercy. 

For months, as Chaya Malka hovered near death in excruciating pain in Hadassah Hospital, her family and friends stormed the Gates of Heaven with fervent prayers and acts of kindness in an effort to “annul the evil decree.”  The loving community’s compassion and chesed contributed immeasurably to Chaya Malka’s miraculous recovery. 

One answer the prophet Micha gave to the question, “What does G-d want from us?” is to “Love Chesed.”  Through stories, Chaya Malka develops the concept of how loving chesed means to pursue it.  She discusses how, when we expand our world beyond our comfort zone to undertake opportunities to do kind deeds, tremendous, promised benefits will flow from the Source of all blessings as a result.

Chaya Malka’s thesis for this speech is the power that pursuing one act of kindness has: to change Hashem’s judgment into an act of mercy-and actually save a life!

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"Let All Souls Praise Hashem" helps audiences see past the physical and connect to the spark of life in others. Chaya Malka had to learn to live with stares of fear and revulsion after she left the hospital and gradually returned to normal living. As a former fashion designer with high regard for style and beauty, she learned to value more what lies beneath the surface.  Her appreciation developed for the Jewish soul and the inner being more than external appearances.

No more did she have to practice this sensitivity than with her Downs-Syndrome child, who was born 10 years later.

“Over the years there is much I have learned from Chassiya. She is always the first to go over to children who are crying, for any reason. Resting a hand on their shoulder, she sits there quietly, without words, just comforting them with her presence. Seeing her do this, over and over again, has given me the ability to perform difficult acts of kindness: visiting the sick or those in mourning. So often we are afraid to approach these people because we fear we have nothing to offer. Chassiya taught me that sometimes just being there is enough.”

As Chaya Malka weaves stories of Chassiya   throughout this talk, she brings the audience along with her as they ride the bus with Chassiya, participate with the Abramsons as Chassiya plays the “Come in” game, watch her joyfully interact with  “normal” siblings. Chaya Malka elevates Chassiya’s life into an instruction book for tapping into the greatness within each of us.

Chaya Malka shows how we can all accept each soul as an image of the Divine and seek the good in them.  When we express our love, sincere praise and appreciation, we construct a path for their very lives to be expressions of praise to Hashem.