Female role models recognised for community impact since 7 October
Chochmat Nashim celebrates heroines of Israel 'whose strength is both quiet and fierce'
Eighteen Israeli women have been recognised for their courage and leadership at a Jerusalem event organised by Chochmat Nashim, the organisation promoting women’s rights in the Orthodox Jewish communities in Israel and the United States.
The inaugural ‘Women of Iron’ Awards event on 28 December, held at the city’s Nefesh B’Nefesh campus, launched a photo exhibit of the heroines, and honoured the life and work of acclaimed photographer, writer, and Jewish peoplehood advocate Laura Ben David, who died in July 2025.
The honourees, each exemplifying resilience, bravery, and moral clarity during national trauma were: Ashager Araro, Ethiopian Israeli activist; Michal Barkai Brody, an Israeli entrepreneur; Gitty Beer, leader and first responder; Shifra Buchris, an orthodox mother of ten and commander in the Israel Border Police; Laly Derai, journalist and social activist; Zahava Diener, whose husband was killed in December 2024; Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, the founder and chair of the civil commission on October 7th crimes by Hamas against women and children; Senai Guedalia, whose husband Yosef was killed after racing to the border to rescue civilians at Kibbutz Kfar Aza; Iris Haim, the mother of Israeli hostage Yotam Haim, mistakenly killed by the IDF in Gaza in December 2023; Sharon Laufer, a Jewish communal professional; Shirel Liberman, activist and public speaker; Shari Mendes, an Israeli architect kniown for accompanying slain female soldiers; Sivan Mashiach, an IDF veteran and rehabilitative physical therapist; Bazy Rubin, who cared for her family whilst her husband was called to duty in Gaza five times after 7 October; Emily Schrader, American and Israeli journalist and founder of the Iran Israel Alliance; Dr. Tamar Shlezinger, clinical social worker and United Hatzalah volunteer; Arbel Yehoud, kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz and held in captivity in Gaza for 482 days; and Sarit Zussman, the mother of Ben Zussman, killed fighting in Gaza in December 2023.
Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll, founder of Chochmat Nashim, The Jewish Life Photo Bank, and co-host of JNS’s The Quad podcast, said: “This was about naming what so many have felt: that our people have been carried, time and again, by extraordinary women whose strength is both quiet and fierce.
“These women represent hundreds more who have filled us with awe as they rose to heights of courage, strength, and leadership through the crisis of the last two years.”
The event was also created as a loving tribute to Ben David, who played a pivotal role in the creation and growth of the Photo Bank, which provides stock photos of daily life with Jewish themes and content for media and personal use.
Speaking in moving tribute to her close friend, Keats Jaskoll said: “Laura used photography to tell the story of the Jewish people, and women’s faces and voices are a major part of that – both in countering the erasure we face in Orthodox spaces and fighting antisemitism around the world. Together, we worked on projects to centre Jewish women.
“After 7 October, when ignoring women’s testimony was a major part of the tragedy that befell us, our commitment strengthened. Even as Laura fought her own health battle, we watched as these women rescued, inspired, and defended our nation, and they inspired her. Tonight, I get to honour them all. The exhibit will carry their voices – and Laura’s legacy.”
Paying tribute to her mother’s strength, Laura’s daughter, Lexi Rotem said: “As a photographer, my mother believed that the way we look at people changes our understanding of the world. She had a way of seeing strength where others saw struggle, and believed in bearing witness even when it was uncomfortable.
“Thank you to my mother, who always believed that women carry the strength to survive, and taught me to stand strong. To the women who faced terror and loss and found their voices, I say thank you for your courage, humanity, and strength.”
In attendance were Chavie Kahn on behalf of UJA-Federation NY; Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, special envoy for innovation at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch; Eli Beer, founder and president of United Hatzalah; and William C. Daroff, chief executive of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations.
Honoured for her work as a first responder on 7 October, Gitty Beer, whose husband is United Hatzolah founder Eli Beer, said: “It was such an emotional evening, I didn’t stop crying! Every single woman you brought was simply incredible. I don’t think there’s another organisation anywhere in the world that chooses to celebrate and honour women like this.”
- To see the full photo gallery of the Women of Iron Awards, click here.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
