In a modest hall in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, dozens of Haredi mothers—whose sons serve in the Israel Defense Forces—gathered for what organizers and attendees alike called a historic moment: a rare public acknowledgment of their role, their pain, and their pride.
The event, organized by the Netzah Yehuda Organization, marked the first of its kind—a formal, communal space for ultra-Orthodox women to speak openly about their sons in uniform. For many in the room, the evening was more than symbolic; it was a release of long-held tension, and a recognition long withheld.
“In our communities, this subject isn’t always discussed,” said one mother, her voice trembling. “You carry it inside. Tonight, for the first time, I felt I could put it down.”
The gathering was part support group, part celebration, and part cultural reckoning. Within ultra-Orthodox communities, military service has long been seen as antithetical to the values of Torah life. Yet, over the past two decades, a growing number of Haredi young men—especially through the Netzah Yehuda framework—have enlisted, creating quiet but profound shifts within the community’s social fabric.
Their mothers remained mostly silent.
A SPACE TO BE HEARD
Opening remarks came from Odelia Bibi, the coordinator for mothers at Netzah Yehuda, who described the evening as “a moment of transformation—a space where the silent can speak, and the hidden can be honored.”
Rabbi Yitzhak Bar Chaim, founder of the Haredi Nahal unit and a spiritual leader of the movement, offered words of validation. “You are the pillar of cloud that leads our fighters forward,” he told the mothers. “Your faith and sacrifice are the backbone of this people.”
What followed was an emotional group dialogue, led by social worker Yehudit Rotkovich. Women shared stories of fear, pride, and spiritual struggle. Some described their sons praying with tefillin moments before deployment. Others spoke of the silence they maintained in their own neighborhoods, afraid to mention that their child wore a uniform.
“It’s not just the boys who cross a boundary,” said one mother. “It’s us, too. Quietly. Every day.”
A highlight of the evening was a performance by the Middlebay Playback Theatre troupe, which dramatized the mothers’ real stories. There were moments of laughter and tears. The audience responded with sobs and applause.
“It’s the first time in years I’ve felt truly seen,” said one mother.
FROM ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY
The evening concluded with a Q\&A session on navigating military service within a Haredi framework—blending halakhic, psychological, and emotional guidance. For many mothers, it was the first time their questions were answered in a setting that acknowledged both their faith and their fears.
Yossi Levi, CEO of Shomer Yisrael, described the women as “the unsung heroines of our generation,” noting that “behind every soldier is a mother whose courage often goes unnoticed.”
Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, Chairman of Netzah Yehuda, offered closing words: “What you do is deeply personal—but also profoundly national. Like the biblical midwives Shifra and Puah, your quiet heroism safeguards our future.”
A NEW BEGINNING
Organizers say the evening is only the beginning. A new community, tentatively named Em HaBanim-Mother of the Sons, has been formed to offer continued support, connection, and recognition to these women. For many of them, the event was more than a gathering. It was, in its own way, a declaration.
“I used to wonder if I was alone,” said one participant as she prepared to leave. “Now I know I’m not. We’re here. And we’re not going anywhere.”
