Six South Florida mothers traveled to Israel on Nov. 5 to volunteer on farms, distribute aid packages, and connect with Israeli families through Mothers Rebuilding Israel, a new joint program with Birthright Israel, Jewish federations, and Momentum, a global movement that helps bring Jewish mothers to Israel.
“This mission is about more than service; it is about presence, solidarity, and the extraordinary strength of Jewish women,” said Lori Palatnik, founding director of Momentum. “We are showing up for Israel when it matters most.”
The Florida women included Maya Arison of Fort Lauderdale, Karen Berman of Fort Lauderdale, Lilya Meisel of Boca Raton, Sari Rae Sheiner of Boca Raton, Tamara Wagner of Cooper City, and Fanny Zigdon of Miami.
In addition to their volunteer efforts, the women visited Hostage Square and other towns that were impacted by Oct. 7, 2023. They ended the trip with Shabbat in Jerusalem, hosted by Momentum.
“I was on a Birthright trip in June, and then the war with Hamas began, which interrupted my trip,” said Karen Berman, one of the mothers from Fort Lauderdale. “I didn’t want to leave Israel, but I had obligations at home. I really wanted to come back, and when I saw this trip on social media, I knew I had to join. I’m so happy [I was able to] contribute, which is exactly what I initially wanted to do.”
Mothers Rebuilding Israel has joined with Volunteer in Israel with Birthright to help bring more volunteers to Israel and connect Jewish women together. Since Oct. 7, Volunteer in Israel has brought more than 17,000 volunteers to the country.