Tribute to the Women of the IDF – Deborah’s Daughters

Petach Tikvah – June 17, 2025

Israel’s first interpretive sculpture honoring the Women of the IDF was sited today in Petach Tikvah.

It was and is long overdue…

The two women, one representing a Woman defender of Israel from 1948 and one from 2025, stand shoulder to shoulder, 14 feet tall, their feet firmly planted in the soil of Israel. Each has a look of determination, mission, duty, and unrestrained courage.

The Tribute to the Women of the IDF is titled – Deborah’s Daughters. The Tribute was conceived and funded by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation (JASHP). The sculpture was created by the noted Jerusalem sculptor Sam Philipe.  Deborah’s Daughters could only come about with the expressed help of Yaakov HaGoel, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, and Rami Greenberg, Mayor of Petach Tikvah.

Deborah’s Daughters began as a question, a few days after the horror of October 7.  Stories emerged from the fog of shock, trauma, confusion, courage, and resistance, even unarmed, of those facing the Holocaust Blood Lust of Hamas and their maniacal Gazan supporters.

One story in particular focused on the Women soldiers of the Border Electronic Surveillance Units. The Women were known as the Tatzpaniot – the Watchers. They had seen and reported, days earlier, up the command structure, unusual activity that they observed in Gaza. Their warning of alarm were discounted. The Women stayed at their posts; they stayed as what they feared happened. Hamas burst through the border, attacking the Watchers to prevent alarms from going out. The Women, though unarmed, stayed at their posts doing their duty. The few that had weapons fought as best they could. The Women were soon overwhelmed, murdered, monstrously sexually assaulted, mutilated, and burned. A few were kidnapped, taken back to Gaza, and displayed to the delight of the Gazan populace. They threw sweets to each other.

Women soldiers and civilians stood in defense wherever they could. An all-women IDF Tank unit that rushed into battle, saving countless lives.

The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation has placed historical interpretive markers and sculptures throughout Israel, telling Israel’s story when Israel would not do it for themselves.

The question was asked. Was there a Tribute to the Women of the IDF? The simple, blunt answer was no. JASHP resolved to do something about it.

Contacting Sam Philipe, JASHP had an idea, a project that JASHP would fund. The imagery would be the historical kesher, the historical link, of Jewish women from the 1948 War of Independence, through today, stepping forward to do what was needed to defend Israel. Philipe powerfully interpreted JASHP’s concept artistically into physical reality.

The biggest difficulty, as with all projects, remained siting.

Incredulously, the Tribute was not welcomed everywhere.

Yaakov HaGoel was approached.Yaakov made the key connection to Rami Greenberg. A prominent, public, and accessible siting was agreed upon in Petach Tikvah. Eight months of work and preparation began.

The Tribute was completed a few weeks ago. Dedication discussions and planning were entered into. A week ago, delaying siting for the big dedication became moot.  That will come later.

Iran was inches from its goal of an Iranian Nuclear bomb backed up by thousands of missiles, all aimed at exterminating the Jewish state in a mushroom cloud.

President Trump’s sixty days of restraint to Israel, to give negotiations, to give peace, a chance with the “Great Iranian Satan” failed.

Israel could wait no longer and survive. The men and women of the IDF, including Women pilots, donned their uniforms and again rose to Israel’s Defense.

The “Great Iranian Satan” had to be faced immediately. Israel attacked. Iran counter-attacked, deliberately targeting Israel’s non-military population centers. An Iranian missile cruelly slammed into a Petach Tikvah apartment building…killing, destroying.

As the missiles continued to fly, Sam contacted me that he was moving the Women to their site in Petach Tikvah. The danger was real. Sam was asked if delays would not be advised. He responded, “If I can bring the Tribute sooner, safely, the Tribute is needed now.”

When the War is over, there will be time for a very appropriate public gathering and dedication of the Tribute to the Women of the IDF.

The dedication stone for the Tribute was brought to the site. It has not been installed yet.  It reads in Hebrew and English:

“The Daughters of Deborah”

 The Women of the IDF

Donated by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation

With Support from the City of Petach Tikvah and

 The Jewish Agency of Israel

Artistic interpreter/Sculptor – Sam Philipe

@2025

Today, the Tribute to the Women of the IDF stands proud, defiant, courageous, and determined.  Thousands of years ago, Deborah, Judge of Israel, responded to the existential threats to Israel of her day.  Deborah’s Daughters do the same today. 

Jerry Klinger is the President of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.

www.JASHP.org