A group of 200 women from six countries arrived in Israel on Monday, Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), as part of a six-day solidarity mission organized by the Jewish women's movement Momentum that was geared toward fortifying and appreciating Israeli resilience during the Swords of Iron War.
Momentum, which works closely with the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, brings Jewish parents from around the world, the majority of whom are mothers, to Israel – with the goal of connecting them with Israel and their heritage. While this is the organization's 5th mission since Oct. 7, the tone and theme of this particular trip reflected the story of Israel today, which is one of both remembrance and commemoration, but also growth and revival.
As such, participants - many of whom are in Israel for the very first time - witnessed Israel's most somber Yom Haatzmaut since its founding. Upon arrival, they took part in a Yom Hazikaron ceremony for Machal soldiers at Sha'ar Hagai and on Yom Haatzmaut and enjoyed a festive meal with 300 evacuees from Kibbutz Alumim. The rest of the trip was infused with fostering solidarity for those affected by Oct. 7, including visiting the Nova Music Festival memorial site where they heard a survivor tell her story there and visiting Kibbutz Reim. The mission also provided participants with several volunteer opportunities which included harvesting crops at a local farm, assembling care packages for soldiers and donating blood.
Participants hailed from six countries including the United States, Panama, South Africa, Canada, Australia and also included native Israelis who shared their personal stories from the war as a way to act as a living bridge between the Jewish state and the Diaspora.
The educational programming mirrored the trip's overall theme of acknowledging loss but also underscoring the Jewish people's longstanding tradition of overcoming adversity. Topics discussed during group sessions included delving into the power of memory, learning, growth and prayer. With many participants experiencing antisemitism back home, programming also included a workshop dedicated to learning ways to combat antisemitism in face-to-face encounters and on social media and how they can advocate for Israel in their communities.
The volunteer activities and emotional meetings are meant to inspire and prepare these women and men to engage in meaningful dialogue so those in their home communities understand the gravity of the situation in Israel. The mission is also a powerful display of Jewish parental leadership in action. The tools and experience that they will take away from this trip will encourage these parents to work together to help change the world.
"The goal of this delegation is to express our unwavering support for the State of Israel where we took part in meaningful conversations and dedicated our time to volunteer to help those in need," said Lori Palatnik, Founding Director of Momentum. "Momentum has brought hundreds of participants since the outbreak of the war as a display of global unity for the country so Israelis can understand the Jewish Diaspora is standing behind them."
She added, "Yes, our participants met a variety of Israelis in distress during this challenging time, but they also witnessed the Israeli commitment to rebuild amid the ruins. This is the message we want the Jewish world to understand – Am Yisrael may be in mourning, but they are not broken. This is the resounding message they heard from families of hostages, soldiers, farmers and many more who echoed Israel's deep commitment to ensuring their own resilience."
Mission participant Michelle Jaffe of Cape Town, South Africa, said, "I've always been proudly Jewish. Since Oct. 7 I've never felt closer to my community. People in my community are quite scared to advocate for Israel now and we've felt totally helpless. On this amazing trip I want to harness the resilience the Israeli people are facing and bring it back to my community at home."
The trip is just one aspect of the organization's comprehensive Momentum Mobilizes Campaign. The multi-pronged initiative was spearheaded in the early days of the War to create a connection to what's happening in Israel through the lens of the organization, deliver support through educational initiatives and inspire action through opportunities to do something positive for Israel in their own Jewish communities.
Momentum worked with dozens of partner organizations around the world to recruit participants. Specifically, the organization coordinated with The Jewish Agency for Israel's P2G program and The Jewish Federations of North America to bring participants from the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Calgary Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
Momentum was founded in 2009 and brought 22,000 participants from 36 countries to Israel. Since Oct. 7, the organization has brought some 500 participants from 15 countries to bear witness to Israel's story and share what they heard with their own communities when they return home. Momentum is also fully connected to the organizational ecosystem across the Jewish world, maintaining partnerships with approximately 300 Jewish organizations and federations.
The organization was established when Palatnik, along with seven other Jewish mother leaders (known as the Utah 8), noticed that communities were struggling to connect women with Jewish values and Israel, and together with eight women from the Washington, D.C. area developed the concept of a subsidized trip to Israel for Jewish mothers as a transformative investment in the Jewish family.
Formerly the Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, Momentum has seen tremendous success in its mission of inspiring women to not only discover but become enchanted with Israel. According to their annual report, within three months after their trip, approximately 91% agree that Momentum enabled them to bring more meaning to their Jewish practice; 83% report feeling extremely connected to Israel and 52% talk about Israel with their family on a weekly basis.
