Five Things Strong Jewish Mothers Do

Since October 7th we’ve seen the incredible courage and faith of so many Jewish mothers who have prayed for their children to be freed, sent their sons to battle for so many sleepless nights and spoke up against the countless lies that were being spread across the world.

Like Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s mother, speaking in front of huge crowds, fighting for his son’s release and blessing him from the border of Gaza right before he was murdered.

And Iris Haim, the mother of Yotam, who sent a message of love and forgiveness to the IDF soldiers who accidentally shot her son as he was trying to escape from his Hamas captors.

How do these mothers remain so strong in the face of such unfathomable tragedy? What is the source of their resilience and faith?

On this Mother’s Day, we have an opportunity to honor all of the incredible Jewish mothers who continue to give life and hope to their families and our nation. Here are five things that strong Jewish mothers do.

1. They connect to their roots.

Strong mothers nurture their children from the deep roots and foundations of their ancestors. They connect to their own mothers, their grandmothers and the mothers of our nation. They find what was inspiring and precious in each generation and they pass down that legacy to their own children.

These mothers know that their children need both the depth and the support of the generations that came before them in order to grow.

2. They pray for their children.

Jewish mothers have been praying for their children for thousands of years. In their own words, they pray for their children’s health, for their happiness and for their growth. Some mothers bless their children on Friday night that God should protect them and be with them. Some mothers bless their children every day. But no matter when or how often Jewish mothers pray, they always see the souls and inner lives of their children. They look beyond the surface of life and focus on the divine light within every person.

3. They know how to forgive.

Strong mothers do not hold onto grudges or resentments. They know how to forgive and how to let go of past hurt in order to move forward. In the words of Iris Haim to the soldiers who mistakenly shot her son: “I love you very much, and I hug you from afar. I know that everything that happened is absolutely not your fault…At the first opportunity, you are invited to come to us, whoever wants to.”

She not only let go of any blame but embraced the ones who thought they would never be forgiven. Strong Jewish mothers forgive with all of their hearts, believing that everything happens exactly as it is meant to happen. They let go of their expectations of the past and lift their eyes towards tomorrow.

4. They know their goals.

Jewish mothers know what their goals are when they are raising their children. They are clear about what their values are and what qualities they are striving to inculcate in their homes. These mothers teach the Jewish values of kindness, justice and faith. They encourage their children to learn and they guide them to reach their full potential as the leaders of the next generation. They teach them both respect and responsibility. And because they know their goals, these mothers have both direction and clarity in the way they build their homes.

5. They never give up.

Strong mothers never give up hope in their children. They believe in possibility even in an impossible situation. They continue to hold onto their faith even when those around them are filled with doubt. They believe in change even when it seems like they are stuck. They never give up hope in their children even when they are struggling or heading in the wrong direction. They believe in light even when the darkness is so thick you can hardly see at all.

On this Mother’s Day, we honor the mothers of the Jewish people who have carried us through the most challenging of times and have never wavered in their love for their children and for their families.

May the strength, the resilience and the faith of Jewish mothers everywhere continue to light the way for all of us as we continue to pray that all our hostages be freed and that all of our soldiers return home.

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