On the evening of Oct. 7, 2023, former Jerusalem deputy mayor Rachel Azaria sat down at her computer and wrote a Facebook post. She wasn’t sure exactly what she was building, but she knew she was starting something.
Five months later, HaOgen LeMishpachot HaMiluim – The Anchor for Reservist Families – has become the most significant civilian volunteer initiative to emerge from the war, with more than 20,000 volunteers, serving 800 towns and cities, and providing support for 35,000 families.
“I asked myself what my role was,” says Azaria. “I didn’t have a formal position anymore. And just as I was wondering, I got a message from a woman we’d helped in 2014, asking, ‘Are you going to do that thing again? Because it really helped us.’ That was my sign.”
In 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, Azaria established a small support network for reservist families - an impromptu, heartfelt initiative to assist others experiencing the same isolation and stress she had endured.
Her husband, like many thousands of Israelis, had been frequently summoned for reserve duty, and the burden of balancing work, young children, and daily life by herself was overwhelming.
People always talk about the soldiers,” she reflects. “But no one discusses the families left behind – the ones who suddenly lack an extra pair of hands.”
That “extra pair of hands” became the foundation of HaOgen. From the start, the organization’s emphasis has been on providing personal and deeply rooted community support: each reservist family receives help from volunteers who visit weekly, prepare meals, shop for groceries, drive children to school, assist with homework, walk dogs, or simply offer companionship.
“Think about it,” says Azaria, “How do you walk the dog in the evening when you’re home alone with a baby?”
At its core, the organization is built on two powerful truths: that Israeli society is stronger than its divisions, and that families are the foundation of national resilience.
“The army did a study and found that there are four reasons reservists return [to battle] again and again,” she says. “One is how supportive their workplace is [to give them a leave of absence]. Two, how well organized the army is. Three, how strong their family support is. And four, how much support there is from the community. HaOgen takes care of reasons three and reason four.”
AN IMPRESSIVE aspect of HaOgen’s growth isn’t just its statistics; it’s how it was created. “We didn’t have a budget. We didn’t wait for permission. We just acted,” Azaria states. “Within minutes of that Facebook post, individuals nationwide began signing up.”
From a single WhatsApp group, a network of hundreds emerged: local coordinators in every city and town, regional leaders managing teams, and a digital system that pairs volunteers with families in just a few hours.
“It’s like a beehive,” Azaria remarks. “All run by volunteers. All grounded in the community.”
The volunteers are a story in themselves – an extraordinary cross-section of Israeli society. They range from high school students fulfilling community service requirements to retirees who show up every week, rain or shine.
“There’s a saying among our team,” Azaria says with a smile. “You can spot HaOgen volunteers by the kindness in their eyes.” Each one is driven by a sense of communal obligation, an understanding that we all share responsibility for supporting these families.
They come from a wide variety of backgrounds: Druze and Jews, secular and religious, left-wing activists and right-wing settlers, hi-tech workers in Tel Aviv and farmers in the Galilee, university students and senior citizens. What unites them is not ideology but purpose.
“People think we are [Israel] divided,” Azaria says. “But we’re not. Just like reservists fight shoulder to shoulder, we work shoulder to shoulder. No one asks who voted for whom. No one questions your beliefs. We are all here for the same, larger purpose: to help. To do good together.” And in giving so much of themselves, the volunteers find strength too; their resilience deepens and they walk away feeling more connected.
By giving so much of themselves, the volunteers find strength as well. Their resilience deepens, and they come away feeling more connected.
In this vast mosaic of volunteers, one common thread stands out: women. “There’s definitely a female majority,” Azaria notes. “And that’s no coincidence. A lot of the men are on the front lines, and the women are the ones holding everything together at home. They see the need, and they fill it, working steadfastly and with determination. They’re the ones holding entire communities together.”
She points to the HaOgen coordinators: Almost all of them are women, many of whom volunteer dozens of hours every week. “They’re the ones who call the families, find the right support, make sure nothing falls through the cracks. They also organize holiday events, as those can be challenging. We call it a ‘holiday hug’ – a Hanukkah party, a Purim gift. Just something to say ‘You’re not alone.’”
THE NEEDS are constantly changing. In the wake of the recent Iranian missile strikes on civilian homes, HaOgen adapted its model to support those affected. “We have a protocol for that now,” Azaria says. “That’s one of our strengths – we’re flexible. Responsive. We’re not an institution; we’re a living organism.”
HaOgen for Reservist Families partners with many other NGOs, which includes those offering psychological support, therapy, and legal and financial aid. It acts as a hub, connecting services, identifying needs, and deploying volunteers with remarkable speed and empathy.
However, for Azaria, the heart of HaOgen remains deeply personal. “I remember what it felt like,” she says softly. “I remember not knowing how I was going to get through another day – juggling work, taking care of my young children, and feeling the fear and anxiety of my husband away in combat. I felt alone. That’s what drives me.”
HaOgen for Reservist Families made an immediate and significant impact, earning recognition from the IDF almost immediately. Within weeks of its establishment, the organization became a reliable partner on the home front, offering the civilian support necessary for the army to operate confidently.
By providing care for the families left behind, HaOgen alleviated the emotional and logistical stress faced by tens of thousands of soldiers. This important work was formally recognized when the organization received the President’s Prize for Volunteering, one of Israel’s most prestigious civilian awards.
That slight relief, that moment of calm in the chaos, are what HaOgen is all about. “You don’t need to be a psychologist or a superhero,” Azaria says. “Just another pair of hands.”
And somehow, against all odds, those hands have multiplied. What started as a Facebook post is now a nationwide safety net – grassroots, female-led, extremely efficient, and deeply humane.
“We’ve built an entire structure,” Azaria says. “And we’ll keep building as long as we’re needed.”
This article was written in cooperation with HaOgen LeMishpachot HaMiluim – The Anchor for Reservist Families