In these trying times, our hearts remain tethered to our homeland.
The State of Israel continues to face not only the aftermath of the horrors of October 7th but also mounting regional threats, most notably the escalating aggression from Iran. While we are not in the land, the tension reverberates deeply, emotionally, spiritually and physically across our people, wherever we may be.
As the world watches ceasefire negotiations unfold, we pray not only for the end of war, but for the safe return of all the remaining hostages, and for healing.
As Jewish women in the diaspora, we may sometimes feel helpless. We ask ourselves, ‘What can we do?’ The answer lies not only in our solidarity but in our collective action.
Remarkably, the story of Queen Esther, whose courage saved the Jewish people, takes place in Persia, which is modern-day Iran. She, too, stood at the intersection of fear and faith, faced with an existential threat to her people. She was not a general or a prophet. She was a Jewish woman in a foreign palace, called to act for such a time as this.
This is the essence of WIZO, a movement of women, for women, and for the Jewish people. We are not politicians or military leaders. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. We build from the ground up, strengthening families, supporting victims of trauma, educating children, and empowering women to live with dignity and hope.
In the face of adversity, WIZO in Israel is doing what it has always done: providing safe homes for abused women and children, offering emotional support to families displaced and affected by war, and equipping communities to rebuild. In the shadow of terror, WIZO brings light.
But we cannot do it alone.
Now, more than ever, we call on women across South Africa to rise to the occasion. Join us. Add your voice, your hands, your energy. The time for passivity is over. This is the time to lead, to give, and to act.
WIZO South Africa is a place where your care becomes an impact. Whether through fundraising, volunteering, or simply showing up, your involvement can directly shape lives in Israel. It is one of the most meaningful ways we, as Jewish women in the Diaspora, can say: Hineni – I am here.
Let us draw strength from our sisters in Israel who continue to show extraordinary resilience. Let us be their partners in hope, their allies in action. Together, we can carry our people through this storm, not just to survive, but to thrive.
Esther’s story is not a relic of the past. It is a reminder that each of us has a role to play in the redemption of our people. Let us not wait to be asked. Let us rise… for such a time as this.
Am Yisrael Chai.
With love and strength,
Shelley Trope-Friedman
President, WIZO South Africa
Website: WIZO South Africa
