Confronting Violence, Strengthening Society

My dear friends, WIZO women,

In these days of heightened anticipation, as we await developments in the ongoing campaign and potential historic decisions regarding Lebanon and Iran, life across much of Israel has returned to a tense routine. As is often the case in such moments, public attention has shifted back to internal issues, with recent headlines dominated by an unprecedented wave of violence affecting Israeli society.

The country was deeply shaken by the murder of a teenage boy from Petah Tikva, who was killed after confronting a group of youths about their behaviour at the pizzeria where he worked. The group later waited for him outside and fatally stabbed him. This tragic incident is part of a broader pattern of violence, crime, and rising aggression that is destabilizing communities, undermining personal security, and threatening to reshape everyday life in Israel.

On this issue, WIZO’s position is clear. Within the ongoing public discourse, we continue to emphasize a message we have long stood by: expecting the police alone to address violence is neither realistic nor effective. Even the strongest law enforcement system cannot reach every child carrying a knife, every abusive household, or every conflict between young people. Addressing the symptoms will never replace addressing the root causes, and those roots lie in education and welfare systems.

For many years, we have been critical of government policies regarding early childhood education. We have consistently warned that neglect in this area would carry a heavy price. When a system fails to fully support and nurture all of its young people, it inevitably leads to a growing number who feel disconnected from the very frameworks meant to guide them. This neglect is evident not only in day-care centres, but also in preschools, schools, youth movements, and informal education systems. A severe shortage of staff and resources, inadequate working conditions, and declining professional standards have created a vacuum in which harmful values, including violence and criminal behaviour, can take root.

Our commitment to strengthening early childhood education, supporting youth villages, and advancing the caregiving professions has never been more urgent. This is a struggle we will continue to lead, driven by the belief that we are safeguarding the character and future of Israeli society for generations to come. We must act with urgency and clarity. The educational continuum, beginning from birth, must be strengthened, properly resourced, and held to the highest standards. Investment in education today will reduce the need for investment in policing, incarceration, and rehabilitation tomorrow, and will help transform at-risk youth into active and contributing members of society.

At a time when Israel is engaged in a broader struggle against external threats, we must also confront the growing internal challenges with equal determination.

I want to assure you, my friends, that WIZO will continue to make its voice heard on these issues. Within our institutions, we will continue to do everything possible to nurture young people who are responsible, engaged, and guided by strong values. In this newsletter, you will read about outstanding students from WIZO Youth Villages, who represent the positive and inspiring side of the next generation growing up in Israel. As I often say to our graduates, “WIZO is your pride, and you are ours.” Today, those words carry even deeper meaning.

With deep appreciation and gratitude,

Anita Friedman
World WIZO Chairperson