The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFWO) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1991, serving as Israel’s sole official body dedicated to the wellbeing of thousands of widows, widowers, and orphans of fallen soldiers from the IDF and all Israeli security forces, including the Israel Police, the Israel Security Agency, Mossad, Israel Prison Service, and civilian emergency response units.
The organization is grounded in the belief that Israel’s strength is measured not only on the battlefield but also in its ability to stand beside the families who have paid the ultimate price.
At the heart of its mission is a commitment to accompany these families throughout their life journey with responsibility, empathy, and unwavering dedication. Key areas of activity include:
- Emotional support is provided through a wide range of therapeutic and peer-support groups.
- “By Your Side” program, offering holistic emotional and financial support to pregnant war widows.
- “Otzma” Camps for orphans ages 6–18, offering a safe, supportive environment that helps them build resilience, process their loss through growth and joy, and form meaningful bonds with peers who share a similar experience.
- TALA program, supporting orphans ages 0–18 in realizing their personal potential and strengthening their emotional and social resilience.
- Family and community retreats, fostering meaningful bonds among widows, widowers, and orphans within the organization.
- Financial assistance and scholarships, including academic scholarships, wedding gifts, and medical grants for widows and orphans.
Today, the organization supports approximately 18,000 families from all religions and sectors in Israel, guided by the values of unity, belonging, and hope, with a clear mission: ensuring that no family ever feels alone.
In addition to its community-focused work, IDFWO advocates nationally, representing families before state institutions and advancing legislation that strengthens the rights of widows, widowers, and orphans.
The partnership between the founders of the Shalem Fund and the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization began in 2019 with the first “Otzma” Camp in Prague. Since then, it has grown into a deep, values-driven alliance built on a shared commitment to supporting families who have endured profound and unimaginable loss.
