IDF Widows and Orphans Organization
Israeli non-profit supporting the widows, widowers and children of fallen IDF soldiers and security personnel
| IDF Widows and Orphans Organization
| |
|---|---|
| Logo | 
|
| Type | Israeli amuta (non-profit association) |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Registration ID | 580202166 (Israel) |
| Headquarters | Shaham 3, Petah Tikva 4951703, Israel |
| Area served | Israel |
| Services | "Support for children and spouses of fallen soldiers" (MyIsrael's accounts) |
| Key people | Yossi Cohen (president, International Friends Association); Zehava Gross Meydan (chair); Shlomi Nahumson (chief executive) |
| Website | idfwo.org |
The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFWO; also IDF Widows & Orphans Organization) is an Israeli non-profit, founded in 1991, that supports the widows, widowers and children of fallen IDF soldiers and security personnel.[1][2] It is registered in Israel as an amuta, number 580202166.[1]
People
International Friends Association
Listed on IDFWO's website:[1]
- Yossi Cohen – president; former head of the Mossad
- Anna Meissner – IDFWO ambassador, Czech Republic
- Zehava Gross Meydan – chairwoman; a lawyer
Board
Listed on IDFWO's website:[1]
- Hagit Sela – also a teacher at the Rabin Pre-Military Academy[3]
- Yaakov Abutbul
- Meirav Revach
- Hadas Mizrahi Simons
- Dr Arielle Yosha
- Michal Kesten Keidar
- Nahed Sabik Break
Yoni Greenwald, managing director of Greenstone Property Group, describes himself on LinkedIn as a board member of IDFWO and as having worked with Intelligo Group; he is not listed on IDFWO's website.[4]
Team
Listed on IDFWO's website:[1]
- Shlomi Nahumson – chief executive; he previously worked for the Jewish Agency for Israel as an emissary in the United States.[5]
- Noali Miron – director of organisational development; previously director of Camp Kimama,[6] a network of camps in Israel, Spain, Italy and the United States.[7]
- David Metzler – Director, International Relations
- Yifat Zinger – Secretary
- Mazi Stroll – Accounting Manager
- Yehuda Katz – Project Manager
- Dana Atias – Project Manager
- Eyar Eliyahu – Otzma Project Director
- Sarit Lev – Resource Development Associate
- Eden Naflay – Project Manager
- Avishay Yanay – Project Manager
The following list roles at IDFWO on LinkedIn but are not listed on its website: Yoav Ron (project manager), Inbal Levy (project manager), Rachel Aboujedid (international relations and global donations), Victoria Sidelski (knowledge and process management consultant), Roni Fogel (partnership and resource development manager) and Sahar Sadeh (head of marketing and digital).[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Officers on the Israeli register
| Name | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Zehava Gross Meydan | Committee member; authorised signatory |
| Arielle Yosha | Committee member |
| Hadas Mizrahi Simons | Committee member |
| Yaakov Abutbul | Committee member |
| Meirav Revach | Committee member |
| Michal Kesten Keidar | Committee member |
| Nahed Sabik Break | Committee member |
| Hagit Sela | Committee member; authorised signatory |
| Shlomi Nahumson | Chief executive; authorised signatory |
| Doron Younesi | Internal auditor |
| Yuval Aharoni | Auditing body |
| Noa Miron | Vice president |
| Ran Avidor | Certified public accountant |
Relationship with the IDF
IDFWO says it "operates under the authority of the Families of Fallen Soldiers Law (1950)" and describes itself as "the only official body in Israel" dedicated to supporting the widows, widowers and children of fallen soldiers and security personnel.[1] Benefits for the families of fallen soldiers are set by that law.[15] In 2026 a new law expanded the rights of IDF widows and orphans.[16] IDFWO also gives orphans serving in the IDF "heavy duty backpacks with essential supplies" for their service.[17]
IDFWO holds events and ceremonies across Israel attended by senior IDF officers.[18][19] These have included gatherings at which members met President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[20]
Yossi Cohen
IDFWO's president is Yossi Cohen, head of the Mossad, Israel's secret intelligence service, from 2016 to 2021.[21][1] In 2021 SoftBank Group opened an Israeli office led by Cohen.[22] In 2024 he extended his contract for two more years as a director of Israel operations at SoftBank, which The Times of Israel describes as "a leading Japanese holding firm that primarily invests in companies operating in the technology, energy, and financial sectors". In August 2025 Cohen, a "longtime Netanyahu aide", declared on a podcast that he should be the next prime minister.[23]
In May 2025 the Israeli quantum-computing software company Classiq raised $110 million in a round led by Entrée Capital; according to Globes, SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 invested an estimated $20–30 million, managed by its investment team in Tokyo "with the knowledge of" Cohen.[24] In December 2025 Globes named Classiq as a "standout" among Israeli defence-tech start-ups working with the Defence Ministry's research and development directorate (MAFAT).[25]
MyIsrael
IDFWO is not listed among the causes on the website of the UK charity MyIsrael. MyIsrael's accounts describe it as providing "Support for children and spouses of fallen soldiers".[26]
| Year | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Year to 31 March 2015 | £13,793 | [26] |
| Year to 31 March 2016 | £2,145 | [27] |
| Year to 31 December 2023 | £2,000 | [28] |
| Year to 31 December 2024 | £9,750 | [28] |
| Total | £27,688 (2015/16 to 2024: £13,895) |
Contact details
- Website: https://www.idfwo.org/en/
- Phone: +972-3-6918403
- Email: office@idfwo.org
- Head office: Shaham 3, Petah Tikva 4951703[29]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 About Us IDFWO, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Home IDF Widows and Orphans Organization, accessed 5 May 2026.
- ↑ Hagit Sela LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Yoni Greenwald LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Shlomi Nahumson LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Noali Miron LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ About Us Camp Kimama, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Yoav Ron LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Inbal Levy LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Rachel Aboujedid LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Victoria Sidelski LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Roni Fogel LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Sahar Sadeh LinkedIn, accessed 2 July 2026.
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Justice - IDFWO Officials GuideStar, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Remuneration and Benefits to Families of those Killed in Hostilities National Insurance Institute of Israel, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ New law expands rights for IDF widows & orphans Jerusalem Post, accessed 5 May 2026.
- ↑ Activities - Care Packages IDFWO, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ IDF Widows and Orphans Organization awards record scholarships to widows, orphans of Israel's fallen Ynet Global, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ For Israeli war orphans, an unforgettable Jerusalem experience JNS, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ The Prime Minister of Israel Facebook, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ About the Author Yossi Cohen, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ SoftBank to open Israel VC office led by former Mossad head Yossi Cohen Jerusalem Post, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen declares he should be next prime minister The Times of Israel, 27 August 2025, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ SoftBank invests in Israeli quantum software co Classiq Globes, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Israeli defense-tech startups attract over $1b in investment Globes, accessed 18 June 2026.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 MyIsrael (UK registered charity 1121960), accounts for the year ended 31 March 2015 (notes on restricted funds), UK Government Web Archive, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ MyIsrael (UK registered charity 1121960), accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016 (notes on restricted funds), UK Government Web Archive, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 MyIsrael (UK registered charity 1121960), Accounts and annual returns (accounts for the period to 31 December 2019 and the years to 31 December 2020 to 2025, notes on restricted funds), Charity Commission for England and Wales, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Justice - IDFWO General Information GuideStar, accessed 18 June 2026.