The Homefront Heroes

On this International Women’s Day, WIZO salutes the mothers facing the consequences of the Iron Swords War.

These heroic mothers—those serving in the reserves, those whose spouses are in the reserves, displaced mothers, and all mothers on the home front—carry the burden of resilience while ensuring their families’ well-being.

Every year, WIZO dedicates International Women’s Day to a significant issue impacting women in Israel. This year, we have chosen to shed light on the struggles of the Homefront Heroes—mothers who are bravely facing the consequences of war, both on the frontlines and at home.

Sadly, these women remain invisible to the system. They face emotional, financial, and employment hardships, while their children require stability and security during these challenging times.

This International Women’s Day, we highlight their plight and we urge both society and the government to recognize these sacrifices and implement the necessary care and solutions.

WIZO Home Front Heroes programs are already offering targeted workshops.

While these Home Front Heroes fight for all of us, it is time we fight for them too.

Donate to WIZO to expand the support programs for the Home Front Heroes!

The Silent Battle of the Home Front

Since October 7, Israel has faced a new reality. While attention is directed at the battlefront, another critical front remains—the home front. Here, thousands of women shoulder the responsibility of maintaining daily life, enabling their partners to focus on military service and combat. At WIZO, we call them “Routine Warriors”—mothers fighting on multiple fronts. They raise their children alone while their partners serve in the reserves, manage careers, sustain the family’s financial well-being, and keep Israel’s economy running—often without formal government support.

However, they are not the only ones paying the price. We have identified a growing burden on mothers affected by war. The severity of their struggle is ranked as follows: mothers in general, wives of reservists, and, at the highest level, mothers serving in the reserves themselves.

The proposed program aims to bolster the resilience of spouses and parents of reservists and those in active service, helping them navigate the challenging period of their spouses’ or children’s military service. 

WIZO stepped in these difficult times offering programs aimed to bolster the resilience of spouses and parents of reservists and those in active service, helping them navigate the challenging period of their spouses’ or children’s military service. 

These initiatives provide psychological support and coping mechanisms through workshops nationwide. The goal is to enhance family resilience and provide tools for better adaptation to the current situation.

Alarming Data: The War’s Toll on Mothers

Ahead of International Women’s Day, WIZO, in collaboration with the Roschnik Research Institute, conducted a survey revealing a significant decline in mothers’ employment and health conditions due to the war.

Key Findings:

• 51% of mothers reported a decline in their mental and emotional well-being, yet only a quarter sought help.
• 42% reported financial deterioration.
• 29% saw a negative impact on their children’s emotional well-being.
• 34% of couples experienced relationship strain (among reservists serving over 200 days).
• 19% faced employment setbacks.
• Despite significant emotional distress, only 25% sought psychological support.
• 13% were either fired or resigned from their jobs.
• A gap between need and government assistance: Nearly half of the mothers were unaware of available support services, and only 4% received assistance from government offices.

A Disparity Between Needs and Solutions

When asked about the support they require:

• 43% of mothers expressed a need for financial aid.
• 36% sought emotional support.
• 27% needed physical assistance with household tasks.
• 26% required childcare support.
• 8% required medical assistance.

Despite these urgent needs, institutional aid remains minimal:

• Only 4% received support from government offices.
• 7% received help from local municipalities.
• The primary source of support came from personal networks: 54% relied on family and friends, 17% received assistance from their workplaces, 15% found support in online communities, and 12% turned to peer support groups.

The Harsh Reality for Mothers Serving in the Reserves

The survey highlights particularly severe hardships for mothers who were called to serve in the reserves:

• 8% of mothers were drafted for reserve duty since the war began.
• 31% of them experienced employment setbacks, compared to 18% of the general population of mothers.
• 42% were either fired or resigned from their jobs (compared to 13% among all mothers).
• 22% reported a decline in their personal health, compared to 16% in the general population.
• 20% reported a decline in their children’s health, compared to only 4% in the general population—showing the significant impact of reserve service on both mothers and their children.

WIZO’s Unique Support System for Families Affected by War

Since the outbreak of the war, WIZO has been operating a unique support system for reservist families, families returning home to the Gaza border region and Sderot in collaboration with regional councils, and communities that remain displaced.

WIZO has also “adopted” the displaced community of Kibbutz Sufa, which was relocated to Ramat Gan, providing tailored support to meet their evolving needs. This includes mandala therapy, phototherapy and photography workshops, financial management and budgeting sessions, therapeutic styling workshops, and a summer camp at WIZO Ramat Gan, where activities were held for both mothers and children.

Workshops for Reservist Families

WIZO’s therapeutic workshops for reservist families are led by experienced facilitators specializing in art therapy, movement therapy, music therapy, and drama therapy, tailored to the specific needs of each group.

• Workshops for mothers of children aged 3-9 and their children: These sessions bring mothers and children together with a professional therapist, while a therapeutic play space is operated simultaneously by WIZO volunteers and certified play therapy practitioners. WIZO emphasizes the importance of supporting both parents and children, as the entire family unit is ultimately affected by the burden of military service.
• Workshops for mothers of soldiers in active duty or reserves: These sessions provide tools for emotional expression, peer support, and guidance on recognizing signs of distress in their children that may require deeper intervention.

So far, dozens of online programs and in-person workshops have been held at approximately 30 WIZO branches across Israel. Given the ongoing war and its widespread impact, these programs are set to expand in collaboration with local councils and municipalities nationwide.