One Israel Fund (OIF) has had a habit of outdoing itself on a regular basis over the course of its 30-year history. By filling critical gaps that address needs in areas such as healthcare, security, education, medical facilities, preventive security and community infrastructure, as well as recreational and communal resources, OIF ensures that Yehuda and Shomron not only survive but thrive. Since Oct. 7, 2023 the needs in those communities have multiplied.

Fast forward to 2024 when, in the words of Eve Harow, director of tourism and education for OIF, “the idea for a One Israel Fund Women’s Division was born due to mutual ‘aha’ moments.”

The initial February 2024 women’s leadership mission to Israel was almost cancelled due to the war. However, they decided to run it with just a few women, although not as a typical solidarity mission. This mission would need a different focus, connecting with Israeli women in Yehuda and Shomron who were now filling the roles of head of household, mother and more as fathers, husbands and sons engaged with the enemy. The mission was meaningful for both sides, said Marla Rottenstreich, who provided the marketing for the February 2025 mission, and led to many essential projects being funded. She cited Na’ama Atidya of Einot Kedem ranch being featured at parlor meetings in the U.S. over the summer of 2024, which enabled her to raise essential funding for her work in the Jordan Valley with youth at risk.

Rottenstreich noted that Harrow, as well as incoming OIF President Jacqui Herman and Women’s Division President Rachel Pill all realized the tremendous importance of connecting Israeli women in Yehuda and Shomron with the women involved in One Israel Fund in America.

Herman shared her thoughts on the mission: “I am deeply moved to see women in the U.S. recognize the importance of bonding with and supporting the women of [Yehuda and Shomron]—standing by them, learning from them, and working together to build a stronger future.”

Harow served as the tour guide on the Women’s Mission. “It was a tremendous privilege and responsibility to be the one to connect women from the U.S. to those in [Yehuda and Shomron]; our shared experiences changed us all.”

Pill added: “I was humbled and honored by the honesty, openness and depth of the women we met. This mission truly connected women in America with the women of [Yehuda and Shomron] in a profound way, and I look forward to witnessing its growth and impact.”

“The February 2025 mission found us, unbearably and unbelievably, still in the same war,” said Rottenstreich. “More than half the group were repeaters. The women of Yehuda and Shomron embody strength, resilience and an unwavering commitment to their families, communities and the land of Israel. Yet, behind their courage lies a reality of daily challenges that most of us can only begin to imagine.

“This mission is not just about showing support from afar, it’s about forging real, lasting connections,” Rottenstreich continued. “It’s about listening to their stories, understanding their struggles and standing beside them, not just in spirit but in action. As Jewish women, we share a deep, unspoken bond, and this journey is an opportunity to strengthen that connection, to learn from one another, and to create a bridge between our communities.”

Her message is straightforward: “The One Israel Fund Women’s Division is building something profound—a network of women who inspire and empower each other. I wanted to be part of that movement, to witness firsthand the impact of our support, and to return home not just as an advocate, but as a sister to the incredible women who are holding the front lines of our homeland.”

One Israel Fund, the premier organization supporting these regions, works tirelessly to facilitate about 200 unique projects throughout the year. The organizational mission is to work in tandem with community and regional leadership and government officials, primarily focusing on enabling Jewish life to flourish in all areas of our biblical heartland, as well as other areas throughout Israel.

Your support of One Israel Fund and the Women’s Division can further extend and increase these essential programs and meet the important needs of our sisters and brothers in Yehuda and Shomron. To donate to or join the One Israel Fund Women’s Division, or for more information about programs and future missions, visit the website https://oneisraelfund.org/womens-division/