What is the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization and How Does it Assist Bereaved Families?
The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization is a non-profit organization established in 1991 to support, strengthen, and empower the widows, widowers, and orphans of IDF soldiers and security forces. The organization operates under the authority of the "Families of Soldiers Killed in Action Law" and is the only official body in Israel dedicated solely to the welfare of bereaved families – not only of the IDF but also of the police, the Shin Bet, the Mossad, the Prison Service, and civilian emergency forces.
Since its inception, the organization has accompanied thousands of families who have lost loved ones during their service and defense of the State of Israel. Our goal is to create a supportive, warm, and embracing community for you, while providing a comprehensive response to the unique needs of each family. We believe that through personalized support, we can help you grow from bereavement and build full and meaningful lives while preserving the memory of your loved ones.
What Types of Personalized Support and Services Does the Organization Offer to Families According to Their Specific Needs?
The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization understands that each bereaved family faces unique challenges and changing needs. Therefore, we offer a wide range of services and activities tailored to each and every one of you. We strive to provide a holistic response that encompasses all areas of life, in order to give you the best possible support in the process of coping and rehabilitation.
One of the cornerstones of our activity is financial assistance. We provide grants, scholarships, and financial aid as needed, understanding that coping with bereavement is often accompanied by financial difficulties. This assistance is tailored to your personal situation and aims to ease the financial burden and allow you to focus on the process of recovery and growth. We ensure that children receive scholarships to secure their academic and professional future, and assist widows and widowers with professional training and reintegration into the labor market, if necessary.
In addition to financial support, we place great emphasis on emotional and psychological support. We offer individual and group support, allowing you to share experiences, receive a listening ear, and tools for coping. Support groups are led by experienced professionals and provide a safe space for sharing and processing emotions. We also offer individual meetings with therapists, if needed, and help you find the most appropriate therapeutic response for you and your children. We understand that the grieving process is individual, so we tailor the type of treatment and support to the pace and unique needs of each of you.
We believe that enrichment and leisure are an integral part of the rehabilitation process. To this end, we organize a wide range of workshops, enrichment classes, and retreats, tailored to different ages and diverse interests. These workshops include topics such as personal development, empowerment, parenting, creativity, and more. The retreats allow you to get out of routine, refresh, and create new social connections in a supportive and inclusive environment. We ensure that the activities are accessible and suitable for the physical and emotional needs of all participants.
For children, we hold dedicated summer camps, which are a unique experience of fun, learning, and friendship. In these camps, children get to meet teenagers and children in a similar situation, share experiences with them, and create meaningful connections. The camps offer a variety of fun and enriching activities, with an emphasis on developing personal resilience and social skills. We are aware that children who have experienced loss have special emotional needs, and the staff accompanying the camps are trained to provide a sensitive and professional response.
Beyond the focused activities, we regularly hold community events aimed at strengthening the sense of belonging and unity among families. These events, which include social gatherings, joint ceremonies, and cultural activities, allow you to feel part of a large and supportive community, and to understand that you are not alone in your struggle. We see paramount importance in creating a mutual support network, where everyone can give and receive.
In summary, the organization is committed to providing emotional support and responding to the unique needs of each family. We operate with sensitivity and professionalism, and make sure to tailor our services individually, to ensure that each and every one of you receives the most appropriate assistance for them. We are here for you, every step of the way, to strengthen, empower, and help you grow from bereavement.
How Does the Organization Operate in the Public Arena and Beyond to Ensure a Comprehensive Response to the Unique Needs of Widows, Widowers, and Orphans?
Beyond the extensive community activity, the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization also operates vigorously in the public and parliamentary arena, with a deep understanding that your well-being depends not only on direct support but also on shaping the policies and legislation that affect you. We represent the widows, widowers, and orphans before decision-makers, and submit proposals to improve regulations and laws in order to ensure your rights and maximum well-being.
We operate in the Knesset before various committees, such as the Labor and Welfare Committee, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and other committees relevant to issues of your rights. Representatives of the organization participate in discussions, present your position, and raise critical issues that require legislative or regulatory attention. We work tirelessly to ensure that your voice is heard, and that your special needs are taken into account in decision-making processes. Among other things, we work to improve pension conditions, expand the basket of services provided by the Ministry of Defense, and adapt the laws to the changing reality of your lives.
The leadership of the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization is democratically elected by the members every four years. This leadership leads the organization's activities, formulates policy recommendations, and represents the families before the Ministry of Defense, the government, and the Knesset. These are representatives from your community, who are intimately familiar with the challenges and needs, and act out of a deep commitment to improve your lives. Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of the leadership's activities, and we make sure to report to you regularly on developments and achievements in the public arena.
The organization's vision is to act with sensitivity, professionalism, and dedication to improve the lives of bereaved families, to strengthen them, and to help them grow from bereavement. We emphasize the mutual responsibility of Israeli society towards the families, and convey a clear message to you – you are not alone. We believe that Israeli society as a whole owes a deep debt to the families who paid the dearest price for the security of the country, and our role is to ensure that this debt is paid in full, not only in words but also in deeds.
Among the organization's values that guide our activities: Community, Partnership, Strength, Diversity, and Growth. These values are reflected in all levels of our work – from individual support to public activity. We strive to build a strong and cohesive community, where everyone feels belonging and supported. We believe in full partnership with the families, and invite you to take an active part in shaping your future. We work to empower you and strengthen your abilities, while recognizing the diversity that exists among bereaved families and adapting the responses to the different needs. And finally, we see growth from bereavement as a supreme goal, and help you find meaning and hope even after the loss.
The president of the organization is Yossi Cohen, former head of the Mossad, who brings with him rich experience and a deep commitment to the cause. The organization also has international ambassadors and supporters, who help raise awareness of the issue and expand the circle of support. These collaborations strengthen our ability to give you the best possible envelope, and to ensure that your rights are protected both in the local and international arena.
For more information about the range of services and activities we offer, you are welcome to visit our website https://www.idfwo.org/. We are here for you, to accompany you in every need and at every stage.
What is the Central Message that the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization Conveys to Bereaved Families and Israeli Society?
The central message that the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization conveys to you, the bereaved families, and to Israeli society as a whole, is clear: You are not alone. The organization is an anchor and central support for you, providing you with accompaniment, assistance, and a sense of belonging, and working tirelessly to ensure your rights and the appreciation of Israeli society for you. We emphasize the mutual responsibility of Israeli society towards you, whose sacrifice for the security of the country requires us to take care of you at all times. We are here to strengthen you, to help you grow from bereavement, and to always remember that the memory of your loved ones will continue to live within us, and you are an integral part of our national resilience.