Some 200 Jewish mothers arrived recently an eight-day journey to Israel, which included women from Moscow and St. Petersburg, war-torn Odessa and Ukrainian refugees currently living in Europe.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The trip was organized by Momentum, a "global movement for Jewish mothers", which noted that the participants were from Ukraine, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Germany.
This was the first such event run by the organizations since war broke out in Ukraine almost a year ago. "Working in partnership with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, the organization helps Jewish women foster a connection to their heritage and the state of Israel," Momentum said. It added, "Coordinating this particular journey was a logistically complex one that involved working closely with dozens of partner organizations in the region that were in touch directly with women in high-risk combat zones and areas where Zionist activity has been severely restricted. While most Jewish organizations have been hesitant to bring Russian and Ukrainian women on the same trip due to the tense political climate, Momentum chose to do the opposite and leveraged this challenge into an opportunity for Jewish unity."
Participants were asked not to bring any clothing or artifacts with symbols so as to avoid having political tensions distract the festive atmosphere, including flags, colors associated with their national flags, or anything that could elicit nationalist sentiment.
"During their stay in Israel, they were able to see major highlights including the bustling city of Tel Aviv, the mystical city of Safed, Masada, and enjoyed a tour of Jerusalem," the organization said.
The itinerary saw the women experience emotional highs and lows, in part because they felt anxious about leaving their families behind during such a precarious time, yet they "were elated when they partook in activities such as choosing their own Jewish name atop Masada or praying at the Western Wall for the very first time." The organizers said the last day was marked by women from both sides of the conflict shedding tears of joy for all that they shared together.
Momentum Founding Director Lori Palatnik said, "We couldn't imagine how we could possibly bring the Ukrainian and Russian groups together. Courageously and with sensitivity, we did, and the women quickly found their commonality as Jewish mothers, striving for the same values, and united as part of a people. We did more for healing, peace, and unity than any geopolitical summit. Women are key."
"Founded in 2009, Momentum's four central goals are connecting to Jewish values, engaging with Israel, taking action, and fostering unity without uniformity," the organization said. "Momentum reaches more than 20,000 diverse Jewish women from 35 countries, making it the ideal organization for cultivating the global Jewish sisterhood."
The eight-day trip to Israel is held after an intensive year-long commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of Judaism and its peoplehood.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
