Widowed In All But Name
Michal Heimowitz was a young girl engaged to be married to Lt. Avi Book when four months before what would have been their wedding, Avi was killed while serving in the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon. That was September 7, 1997. That day, Michal's world, as she knew it, came to an end. Neither emotional nor economic help was available from the Bereavement Unit of the IDF or the Ministry of Defense of the State of Israel because fiancées are not blood relatives of fallen soldiers.
Out of this tragedy, an Organization for Emotional Support of Fiancées of Fallen Soldiers of The Israel Defense Forces was established to help the fiancées of IDF soldiers who were killed during their service to cope with the terrible tragedy that befell them and to help them to continue living and rebuild their lives. Michal's mother, Phyllis and her other daughter, Tamar, took on this challenge and in the framework of a Support Group, help was given to Michal and eight other girls like her. Since that time, 15 more groups have formed and in 2006, 3 Support Groups are meeting concurrently- Groups 14, 15 and 16.
Professional group leaders, who are trained and experienced in the treatment of bereavement, lead the Support Groups. Participation in the Support Group is free and is open to every fiancée of a soldier (male or female) who was killed during service. Only the professional group leader gets paid and the average group meets once per week for a year.
Our Involvement
To suddenly lose the love of your life, at the very beginning of your life, when hopes and dreams are vivid and real, is a suffering that cannot be understood even by well-meaning family and friends. This unimaginable pain is being felt by many young people today in Israel. Girlfriends and boyfriends of fallen soldiers must be allowed to "officially grieve." There is no other organization like this in the State of Israel and the fiancées travel as far as they must across the country to be a part of a Support Group. Hands On Tzedakah took on the responsibility of fully funding Group 12 in 2004. The crisis in Israel in the summer of 2006 produced many more young women who are sadly facing the most terrible tragedy and trauma of their young lives. Group 17 and Group 18 formed and Hands On Tzedakah once again ‘stepped-up’ and sent funds so the groups could begin. Group 18 was paid for by a designated contribution from one of our donors.
Contact Information:
Non-Profit Organization for Emotional Support of Fiancées of Fallen Soldiers of The Israel Defense Forces, Phyllis Heimowitz, 6 Havatzelet St., Kiron, Israel, 011-972-3-534-7860, www.girlfriendsidf.org.il; e-mail: heimw@013.net.il
