Orphans

Foster family or residential care system? US study informs Israeli org. on how to care for orphans

Children placed in foster family care are more likely to acquire better academic outcomes than those who were not, mainly because of receiving developmental and preventative care.

 THE FOSTER families provide loving, stable homes for children to recover from difficult situations (Illustrative).
An IDF orphan, wearing a beret from the Nachal Brigade, celebrating his bar mitzvah at the Kotel in Jerusalem, October 20, 2025.

Forty-eight IDF orphans mark bnei mitzvah at Western Wall

Rotem Blohman with her husband Yakir, z”l and children Koren and Imri.

First they lost their husbands - then their homes were hit by Iranian missiles

 Group session at one of the Sunflowers centers

A New Dawn for Israel’s War Orphans


Bereaved children from Israel-Hamas War find comfort at Koby Mandell Camp

The Koby Mandell Foundation provides emotional support, summer camps, workshops, and enrichment activities for bereaved children and their families.

Photos show participants in the camp.

Strength meets sea: IDF orphans, Olympic athletes unite for inspirational day in Eilat

Bereaved children joined Olympic athletes in Eilat for a day of strength, sport, and healing, part of the annual “Otzma” camp initiative.

 Israeli Olympians Daniela Peleg and Yuval Freilich at this week's event in Eilat

123 orphan boys celebrate their Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall

The war has left hundreds of Israeli families bereaved, and thousands of children facing life without their fathers. This year’s Colel Chabad Bar Mitzvah carried extra weight for boys who lost it all

The Annual Colel Chabad Bar Mitzvah commemoration for orphan boys

Israel amends financial support package for guardians of children orphaned in terror attacks

Support packages will be dependent on the number of orphans cared for per household, their ages, as well as the number of guardians caring for them.

 Abigail Idan, who was released after being taken hostage during the October 7 attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, smiles on the lap of her aunt Liron at Schneider Children's Medical Center, November 27, 2023.

Israel war relief: Merit Spread drives NIS 200m. in global donations for war-related projects

Alon Tal, the founder of Merit Spread Foundation, said there was a need to create “a new standard in philanthropy.”

 Walking among teddy bears representing children held captive in Gaza, in Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Square, Oct. 29.

Floyd Mayweather launches charity to support Israeli orphans

Floyd Mayweather pledges birthday gifts for every Israeli orphan in a newly announced charity effort.

 Floyd Mayweather's proposed van for his charity project for Israeli orphans is shown in this screenshot from his social media post on December 8, 2024.

Orphaned by violence: Amna Aash’s journey with the Sunflower Association

“We didn’t just lose our mother; we lost our childhood, our resilience, and our security,” Amna Aash said following her mother's murder.

 Sunflower Association Center in Jisr az-Zarqa

Shlomi Nahumson and Tami Shelach: Leading the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization

IDF Widows and Orphans Organization is the only Israeli organization that supports IDF widows and veterans. “The families continue to live with their loss, and we need to remember and support them".

 Tami Shelach and Shlomi Nahumson, December 2023.

Shira Grinberg’s journey of loss, resilience, and hope

"There’s no need to fear time. The loss is there, but life goes on”: Shira shares her story a decade after Operation Protective Edge.

 SHIRA GRINBERG and her beloved father, Amotz.

Sara Netanyahu honors IDF widows in emotional meeting

Sara Netanyahu's poignant meeting with IDF widows highlighted the enduring impact of sacrifice and the nation's commitment to honoring its fallen heroes.

PM's wife Sara Netanyahu meeting with IDF widows and orphans

International Widows Day: The wives and children of the IDF’s fallen soldiers

The IDF Widows and Orphans has seen 260 new widows and 520 newly orphaned children access their support services since October 7.

 IDF soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, June 4, 2024