The Emunah Women’s Movement was founded over 90 years ago with a single mission - to serve the needs of the nation of Israel. The uniqueness of this mission was not in the goal though, but in who was carrying it out - the religious-Zionist women of Israel and the Diaspora. Since its founding, Emunah women both in and out of Israel have been focused on fulfilling the mission of its founders, to serve and support the needs of the country.
Throughout Emunah centers and branches in Israel, women are giving of themselves to this mission of service and inspiring others to continue serving. In Emunah children’s homes, you will find countless Bnot Sherut who dedicate their whole selves to providing love and support to children who have never known what a true home feels like. In fact, after the start of the war and in the wake of a staff shortage in the homes due to so many male staff members rushing to reserve duty, scores of former Bnot Sherut from Emunah children’s homes came back to volunteer and fill in as counselors and in whatever other capacity was needed. They did so not because they were required to, but because they felt called to serve in their own way. The women who serve in the Emunah children’s homes are an integral part of the staff and an inspiration for the children, who see their dedication and service and these children go on to serve in the army and national service themselves.
The culture of service continues in Emunah’s high schools and college as well. Graduates of Emunah’s high schools are proud national service girls and soldiers and continue to give back to their communities through volunteer programs in and out of the schools. In the Emunah Appleman College, it is no rarity to see students absent from class for weeks at a time as they serve in the reserves with the full support of the college.
In the Emunah Therapy Centers around Israel, the women who serve and the women of service are brought together. Emunah women from international branches around the world work tirelessly to connect their communities to Israel and to help support Emunah’s mission of service. It is because of that work and international Emunah support that Emunah therapists are able to provide essential support groups and therapy to our miluim wives and mothers. These “heroes behind the heroes” of Israel who have sacrificed everything for the defense and safety of our people.
There are countless examples of Emunah community branches in Israel organizing clothing drives, meals, Beit Midrash programs - all to help their communities and to lend a hand to people who need support. The women of these community branches are themselves mothers, community leaders, CEOs, public sector heads - women who in their public and private lives are working to invest in and develop Israel to be a global superpower in every sector.
These stories are not outliers, they are part of a culture, almost a given. Whether a woman is putting on an IDF uniform, donning a National Service tag, helping support those at their greatest time of need - Emunah women are serving in every area of Israeli society. Within the global Emunah Women’s Movement, service is not just a buzzword - it is a way of life and our greatest calling.
The author, Meira Lerner, is Director of World Emunah