Unfortunately in Israel, due to the challenges faced each day protecting the country from terror attacks, too many women become widowed in the early stages of their lives, sometimes before they had time to conceive, give birth, experience motherhood or build a family. The mental upheaval is treated in a long rehabilitation process, which sometimes lasts for years, and does not necessarily take into account the woman's age and fertility.

Following the plight of the widows observed in the corridors of the Puah Institute over the years which deals with fertilization processing for women, they decided to embark on a unique new path. A special system was built at the institute, which will be coordinated by Dr. Muriel Yerachi, who will accompany the women seeking to carry a child. The treatment will include providing medical, Jewish law guidance, and emotional information and advice, along with the possibility of a physical escort to the medical center on the due date. All these and more will be provided by professionals free of charge. Various services will also be provided in the laboratories in the medical centers based on arrangements with the institute.

Faith and fertility: Israel’s secrets of survival https://t.co/nYi684NmxB

— אברהם יהושע כהן ,האריה Avi Barbour (@AviBarbour) January 29, 2023

The institute explains that even unmarried women, such as girlfriends of fallen IDF soldiers, will also receive assistance. "Our system is built on the smallest subtleties with the aim of understanding every woman," explains Dr. Yerachi, "starting with age, through worldview, to health status; everything needed to go through the process successfully."

An anonymous 34-year-old widow with two children, who decided to join the program said that "Five years ago, my dear husband was killed in operational activity. The last thing I could imagine was a chapter two relationship and the continuity of expanding the family. After about two years, I came to the realization that I wanted to continue living, despite and because of the difficult loss, and to make my children and even my late husband happy. It's hard to explain the whole emotional process I went through. I applied to the institute and I felt that there was a whole team with me that held my hand and helped me. The medical staff was also amazing and sensitive. This is a medical procedure that is accompanied by many side effects. When I was told what the egg count was, I was so happy I did it."

לראשונה בישראל: מערך שימור פוריות לאלמנות צה"ל ונפגעי פעולות האיבה. מכון פוע"ה מקים מערך סיוע למען עתידן של אלמנות צה"ל, ואלמנות נפגעי פעולות האיבה - ייעוץ, ליווי והסברה למען שימור פוריותן

— Ami Rojkes Dombe (@AmiRojkes) January 30, 2023

The new program was introduced by POA in preparation for the 20th annual women's conference of the Institute, which will be held this coming Wednesday in Jerusalem. Rabbi Menachem Burshtin, head of the POA Institute, said that "the loved ones of the widows gave their lives for our future, and we at the POA Institute will take care of them and do everything for their fertility and personal future.”