IDFWO USA Launches Bar & Bat Mitzvah Initiative Connecting American Jewish Teens with Children Bereaved by War in Israel

As hundreds of Israeli families face new bereavement since October 7, the initiative invites young American Jews to dedicate their Bar or Bat Mitzvah fundraising to supporting widows, widowers and orphans

NEW YORK – August 31, 2026 – IDF Widows & Orphans Organization - USA (IDFWO USA) today launched a new Bar and Bat Mitzvah fundraising initiative enabling American Jewish youth to mark their milestone by raising funds to support children in Israel who have lost a parent serving in the IDF or security forces.

Since October 7, 2023, more than 900 children have been newly recognized as orphans following the loss of a parent serving Israel. The new initiative gives young American Jews an opportunity to turn one of the most significant milestones in Jewish life into an act of solidarity with bereaved children and families in Israel.

Through the program, Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrants can create personalized fundraising campaigns and invite family, friends and members of their communities to contribute in honor of their milestone. Funds raised will support specific IDFWO programs accompanying bereaved children and families throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Daniel Elbaum, Executive Director of IDF Widows & Orphans Organization - USA, said: “A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a moment when a young person begins to understand their place and responsibility within the Jewish community. Through this initiative, American Jewish teens can say something very powerful to a child in Israel who has lost a parent: Hineni - here I am. I see you, I stand with you, and you are not alone.”

Max August, IDFWO-USA Board Member and Founder of the Israel Summit, said: “Israel’s fallen heroes made the ultimate sacrifice, but the responsibility to their families belongs to all of us. IDFWO makes sure that responsibility does not end when the headlines fade. This program gives the next generation of Jewish young people a powerful way to take their place in that sacred obligation, turning their own milestone into meaningful support for children who have sacrificed so much.”

IDFWO supports widows, widowers and orphans across Israel through social and community programs, educational and milestone support, family activities and long-term accompaniment designed to ensure that bereaved children and families remain connected to a strong and supportive community.

The new Bar and Bat Mitzvah initiative is designed to create a direct connection between young Jews in the United States and bereaved families in Israel, giving participants the opportunity to make giving and communal responsibility part of their own coming-of-age experience.

For more information or to create a Bar or Bat Mitzvah fundraising campaign, visit: https://mitzvah.idfwousa.org.

About IDF Widows & Orphans Organizaion

The IDF Widows & Orphans Organization is the official representative body for families of fallen IDF soldiers and members of Israel’s security forces. Founded in 1991, the organization represents and supports over 18,000 widows, widowers, and orphans nationwide, and operates under the Families of Fallen Soldiers Law (1950). Its work includes direct social support, rehabilitation programs, community initiatives, and public advocacy, alongside parliamentary engagement to advance legislation and policy reforms. Since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, the circle of bereavement has expanded significantly, including 364 new widows and widowers, among them 48 pregnant widows, and 912 new orphans.