Women Discuss Their Roles in Identifying Fallen IDF Soldiers

Three years after the October 7th attacks, a special panel hosted by "These Religious Women" brought together four women to discuss their sensitive and often hidden roles in handling and identifying fallen Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. The discussion highlighted the profound sense of mission, reverence, and resilience involved in this work, which is largely conducted away from public attention.

Efrat, a lawyer, has been involved in caring for fallen female soldiers for years, a fact she kept private due to the belief that the work should be done with modesty and respect for the deceased, not for personal recognition. Hadas, a bride instructor and fitness coach, joined the effort at the outbreak of the war, facing a reality for which she felt unprepared. Both women noted that while they were tending to the fallen, their own husbands and children were serving on the front lines. They emphasized the feeling of privilege and sacred duty associated with their roles, cautioning against imposing feelings on those who perform this difficult task.

Adva Zeidman, an organizational and business consultant, and Shomrit Tuviana, head of the "Partnership for Mission" forum, shared their experiences from the perspective of wives whose husbands are serving in reserve duty. They spoke about the challenges of maintaining family life, raising children, and returning to routine while their partners are engaged in prolonged military service. Tuviana founded the "Partnership for Mission" forum, later joined by Zeidman, to promote recognition, provide resilience support, and offer guidance to those in the IDF's identification and casualty care units and their families.

The panel also addressed the complex issue of psychological support, noting that not everyone who performs these duties requires treatment, and some even report feeling strengthened by the experience. The focus, they stressed, should be on providing support to those who need it, without defining the mission itself as a source of trauma. The discussion concluded with a reflection on how little the public truly knows about this hidden, difficult, sacred, and awe-inspiring world of individuals and families dedicated to this profound mission.