Echoes of October 7 and the Hope of Renewal

Dear Friends, Women of WIZO,

As the song “Hithadshut” (Renewal) by Naomi Shemer says: “After the holidays, everything will be renewed; you too, you too will be renewed.” Renewal is part of our lives. Just recently, we inaugurated a new WIZO daycare center in Atlit near Haifa, opened an advanced sensory-motor room at the WIZO daycare in Ichilov, Tel Aviv, and began the intensive process of appointing a new Director General to succeed the one stepping down. We hope that you, our dear friends overseas, also feel this spirit of renewal, both personal and collective, just as we feel it so strongly here in Israel.

The second anniversary of the October 7 massacre, a day that still echoes in our lives and hearts today, is now upon us. On October 7, our International Relations Division will release a special video on this subject as part of our commemoration events, with a short trailer published here. Even now, our national reality remains turbulent: the hostages have not yet returned, and the war in Gaza is still ongoing.

It is also difficult to ignore the world’s headlines, with constant reports of rising antisemitism that increasingly take the form of international political pressure on Israel. Yet alongside these challenges, we must not forget that there are many reasons for national pride: pride in a strong and determined people who choose what is right over what is easy, who remain steadfast in their just struggle of good against evil. We felt such a powerful moment of pride this past month of Elul, during the annual tribute event honoring WIZO Israel’s 2,300 volunteers.

The spirit of unity and generosity, the elevated atmosphere, and the songs of the Land of Israel reminded us how beautiful and strong we are when we stand together, and how much one person can achieve when she is focused on action rather than recognition. At the event, 800 volunteers, an extraordinary force of influence, gathered to celebrate the joy of giving, and we were there to cheer them on.

Volunteering is something one does not out of obligation, but from personal choice and free will, guided by conscience and a sense of belonging. Yet here in Israel, in our society, among our people, and in the times in which we live, volunteering and giving are not luxuries. They are foundations of our very survival. As the Chilean poet once wrote: “Each person carries on their back a piece of the sky, so that the world will not collapse.” Here in Israel, this is even more true.

Sometimes it is good to lift our eyes from the television screen or the online news and discover the wonderful things happening right before us. We have a beautiful land and a beautiful people. As Naomi Shemer wrote: “To the water cisterns, to the spring that pulses in the hill.” She was referring not only to the beauty of the landscape, but also to the beauty of the human spirit. In WIZO’s volunteers, we saw those “water cisterns” of our nation, and that spring pulsing in the hills. You will also find later in this newsletter a fascinating report that further analyzes the work and impact of WIZO’s volunteers.

As the festival of Sukkot approaches, we wish you once again a joyful holiday, one that brings with it the excitement of renewal. May we continue, even when the holidays give way to ordinary days, to carry a piece of the sky upon our shoulders so that our world, and our blue-and-white mission, will continue to thrive in every color of the rainbow.

With great gratitude and appreciation to all our partners,

Anat Vidor, World WIZO President

Anita Friedman,  World WIZO Chairperson