The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFWO) is the central body in Israel for supporting bereaved families of fallen soldiers and security forces. The organization does not settle for just financial assistance, but places significant emphasis on providing comprehensive emotional, educational, and social support. We deeply understand that coping with the loss of a family member is an ongoing and complex challenge, requiring close professional and community support. This support is essential for building mental resilience, rehabilitating lives, and ensuring a better future for widows and orphans, enabling them to cope with the loss in a healthy and empowering way. We are here to provide the necessary anchor in the most difficult moments and create a supportive and embracing community for you.
How is the organization's emotional support and professional guidance expressed for widows and orphans?
At the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization, we understand that the emotional journey after a loss is complex and ongoing, requiring close and professional support. Therefore, we provide continuous emotional support to widows and orphans, tailored to the unique needs of each and every one of you. This support is expressed in a wide range of activities and tools designed to strengthen you and enable you to cope with the loss in the best possible way.
Community Emotional Response: Support Groups and Joint Activities
One of the main tools we offer is support groups. In these groups, you meet other widows and orphans who are experiencing similar experiences to yours. These meetings provide a safe and protected space to share feelings, thoughts, and difficulties, without fear of judgment. The ability to share the pain with someone who truly understands what you are going through creates a deep sense of belonging and reduces the feeling of loneliness. We see how strong bonds are created in these groups, forming a strong mutual support network.
In addition to support groups, we organize social gatherings, workshops, and joint activities. The purpose of these is to allow emotional processing of the loss in a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, and to strengthen the sense of belonging to a community that understands your unique challenges. The workshops focus on a variety of emotional and therapeutic topics, providing you with practical tools for coping with grief, building mental resilience, and personal growth. We believe that participation in these activities contributes significantly to the recovery process and improves the quality of life.
Special Emphasis on Children and Adolescents
Special emphasis is given to children and adolescents, who cope with loss in different and complex ways. We operate special programs for them aimed at helping them cope with grief, process the overwhelming emotions, and build mental resilience for the future. Activities for children and youth include individual and group therapies, creative workshops, experiential activities, and peer groups. We accompany them throughout all stages of development, providing them with the support needed so that they can grow and develop despite the difficulty.
Individual Professional Accompaniment: Psychologists, Social Workers, and Counselors
The organization operates professional and experienced teams including psychologists, social workers, and counselors. These teams are available to assist you in coping with crises, emotional difficulties, questions of identity, and coping with national and personal memorial days. We offer individual accompaniment and professional advice, tailored to the specific needs of each and every one of you. Professional accompaniment allows you to receive tools for coping with stress, anxiety, and depression, and to develop strategies for coping with loss.
Immediate Response: Emergency Hotline and Crisis Support
In emergency situations, such as security events, we establish a dedicated emergency hotline that provides immediate response, counseling, and emotional support to affected families. We understand the urgency and need for a quick response in such situations, and we operate around the clock to provide you with the necessary assistance in the most critical moments. We are committed to accompanying you at all times and providing you with the professional and emotional support you need. It is important to remember that coping with loss and grief is a personal process and often requires professional support. More information on coping with loss and grief can be found in reliable sources on the subject Coping with Grief and Loss.
We believe that the combination of community, group, and individual support, together with the professional guidance of our teams, allows you to rebuild your lives and find meaning and hope even after the most difficult loss. We are here for you, all the way.
What social, community, and developmental initiatives does the organization promote to strengthen families?
At the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization, we understand that coping with loss is not just an emotional matter, but also a social and community one. Therefore, we work diligently to strengthen social and community ties among bereaved families and promote developmental initiatives aimed at empowering you and enabling you to realize your personal potential.
Building a Supportive Community: Social Events and Gatherings
One of the cornerstones of our activity is organizing social events, trips, and fun days. These events are an excellent opportunity for you to meet other widows and orphans, spend time together in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, and create positive shared experiences. We see these events as an important tool for creating a supportive social network, where you can feel less alone, share experiences, and create new connections. These community gatherings strengthen the sense of belonging and help build a strong and cohesive sense of community.
Accompaniment at Central Crossroads: Support at Significant Events
In addition to leisure activities, we take care to provide tangible support at significant events in your lives. For example, we give gifts for birthdays, special support packages for events such as recruitment to the IDF, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, graduation, and more. Our goal is to show you that we are with you at every significant crossroads and to help you celebrate these important moments with dignity and joy, despite the pain and loss. We believe that attention to these small details strengthens your feeling that you are not alone.
Investing in the Future: Educational and Developmental Support
In addition to social support, we invest heavily in educational and developmental support. We operate a variety of educational programs, provide scholarships, and promote projects aimed at helping orphans and widows acquire education, develop professionally, and realize their personal potential. We believe that education and personal development are key to a better future and provide you with the tools and resources needed to succeed in these areas.
Empowering the Younger Generation: Tools for Personal and Social Growth
Special emphasis is given to children and young people from among the orphans. We develop dedicated programs for them aimed at providing them with tools for personal and social growth and helping them cope with the unique challenges of growing up without a parent. These programs include enrichment classes, leadership workshops, social activities, and personal mentoring. We strive to equip them with the skills and self-confidence that will enable them to integrate into society successfully and build a promising future for themselves.
We see ourselves as your partners on the journey of life and are committed to providing you with all the tools and support needed so that you can develop, grow, and thrive. Our activity in the social, community, and developmental fields complements the emotional and professional support, creating a holistic envelope aimed at strengthening you and helping you build full and meaningful lives, despite the loss. We believe in the power of the community to support and strengthen and invite you to take an active part in these initiatives.
How can each of us support the important work of the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization?
The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization is a significant anchor for bereaved families in Israel. It provides not only a financial response but mainly an emotional, social, and educational support network, which allows families to cope with the loss, strengthen themselves, and build a better future. Its comprehensive activity is based on donations, volunteering, and gratitude from Israeli society towards those who paid the heaviest price for the security of the country.
Each and every one of us can take part in this important mission. Your support allows us to continue and expand our activities, reach more families, and provide them with the full envelope they so desperately need. We invite you to donate to orphans and be active partners in national resilience. Your donation, small or large, strengthens the families coping with bereavement and gives them hope for the future. Together, we will continue to embrace and support those who sacrificed the most precious thing for all of us.