The Blogs: A powerful and inspiring evening of resilience with Yael Maori & IDFWO USA

This week, I had the honor of meeting Yael Maori who was traveling throughout Philadelphia and New York and speaking in homes, synagogues, and communal organizations about her emotional and moving life story. The Event was hosted at the Israel Discount Bank office in NYC by the ‘IDF Widows And Orphans USA’ Organization’. Yael’s husband, Lt. Col. Dan Maori, was killed in battle in southern Lebanon while protecting his soldiers. He was killed on their son Eitan’s ninth birthday, a loss almost impossible to comprehend. Yet despite unimaginable grief, Yael has shown extraordinary bravery and resilience. She speaks not only about loss, but about love, memory, family, and the determination to continue living with strength and purpose for the sake of her children and in honor of Dan’s legacy.

One of the remarkable things about Yael is the quiet dignity and humanity she brings into every room. People leave not only moved by tragedy, but inspired by resilience, courage, and the enduring spirit of the people of Israel. What also impressed me so much about Yael is how she taken the initiative to raise her sons, spread her message to the World and be so accomplished. Yael is an Israeli corporate executive who serves as the Chief People Officer (CPO) at AMOS-Spacecom, a prominent global satellite services provider. Appointed to the executive role in September 2024, she oversees human resources strategy, organizational growth, and talent development.

Yael was traveling the northeast with the “IDF Widows & Orphans Organization” USA. Founded in 1991 and managed by CEO Shlomi Nahumson, IDF Widows & Orphans Organization is the official Israeli organization supporting the spouses and children of Israel’s fallen soldiers, police officers and security personnel. Since October 7 alone, more than 350 new widows and over 900 new orphans have entered the IDFWO family, along with dozens of pregnant widows. In just two years, more widows and orphans have entered our care than in the previous twenty years combined. IDFWO provides emotional support, financial assistance, camps and retreats for children, mentorship programs, academic scholarships, vocational training, therapeutic bereavement programs, and long-term community support to ensure these families are never alone. The Organization offers immediate financial assistance through scholarships, health grants, wedding stipends, emergency food vouchers and more. They provide personal support for the widows that are pregnant and personalized growth opportunities for orphans with mentorship to pursue their passions and skills whether in academics, arts, sports or technology.

The organization also advocates directly with the Knesset and government ministries to protect and strengthen the rights of Israel’s widows and orphans. In addition, they have received Government advocacy ensuring fair financial entitlements, improving mental health frameworks and extending rights to newly recognized families. The Organization offers Youth therapeutic camps held four times a year during major school holidays (Sukkot, Chanukah, Passover, and summer) providing peer community support and recreation for children ages 6–18. In addition, they have a specialized early-childhood program run in collaboration with IDFWO Canada providing trauma-informed care and psychosocial therapy retreats for widows and children under age six. The Organization provides direct economic aid, medical grants, higher-education scholarships, and wedding gifts. They also run a regional volunteer networks, subsidized adult enrichment courses, care packages, and holiday events to foster strong social ties among members.

Some of the 2025 highlights and accomplishments of this great Organization include 388 children who participated in their Camps for ages 6 to 18, 241 children who registered in personalized development with mentorship, 41 widows who were supported in their program to help pregnant and single mothers, 214 participants in a healing retreat, 491 health grants that were awarded, 153 widows and orphans trained in vocational courses, 199 academic scholarships awarded, 800 attendees at the annual support gathering and day of fun in September and much more. As I thanked Yael for her beautiful and emotional speech and Dan Elbaum (Executive Director of IDF Widows and Orphans USA), I conveyed that I was deeply touched by the great impact that the Organization is making in the daily lives of these strong and valiant families. May the Memory of Dan and all of those we lost in times of War and terror be an eternal Blessing and may the families preserve the life and legacy of those they loved and cherished so much.