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By: Jason Ostedder

In an unprecedented display of courage, unity, and resilience, 170 bereaved Israeli mothers and their children — families who have endured the devastating loss of loved ones in defense of Israel — are embarking on a historic healing journey to the United States, a mission that promises solace, solidarity, and spiritual renewal.

According to a report that appeared on Thursday at VIN News, this extraordinary initiative, led by Rabbi Mendy Kenig, the founder of Menucha V’Yeshua, represents the largest gathering of its kind ever organized. For these women — the mothers of fallen soldiers, terror victims, and defenders of Israel — the trip is far more than an overseas visit; it is a statement of survival and faith, a reminder that even amid loss, the Jewish people stand as one.

VIN News reported that the journey will bring the group across multiple cities, with key stops designed to offer rest, inspiration, and communal connection. Their itinerary includes a healing retreat in Orlando, where the families will spend a restorative weekend, and a series of visits to Jewish communities throughout the United States.

The highlight of the trip will be a special Shabbos in Deal, New Jersey, a deeply emotional weekend expected to draw hundreds of participants in a shared outpouring of love and unity.

“This gathering is truly historic,” VIN News noted in its coverage. “Never before have so many bereaved mothers and their children from Israel traveled together for such an extensive healing mission. This journey represents not only physical travel but an emotional pilgrimage — a collective reaffirmation of faith and strength after loss.”

Now that the last of Israel’s hostages have returned home, these mothers — whose loved ones paid the ultimate price for the nation’s survival — face a profound emotional challenge: the fear of being forgotten.

“Their sacrifice is permanent,” Rabbi Kenig told VIN News. “Their pain doesn’t fade when the headlines fade. These families gave their children, their husbands, their brothers for Am Yisrael. Our mission is to make sure they know they will never be forgotten.”

Through Menucha V’Yeshua, Rabbi Kenig and his dedicated team have been working for years to support families enduring personal tragedy — particularly those touched by loss, disability, and trauma. Since the October 7th attacks, his organization has intensified its efforts, organizing Shabbatonim, retreats, and support programs that offer bereaved families the chance to find community, healing, and moments of peace amid ongoing sorrow.

The VIN News report highlighted that Rabbi Mendy Kenig’s work is deeply personal. A Biyaner Chassid from Modiin Illit and father of five, Rabbi Kenig’s path to this mission began with his own experience of hardship.

Several years ago, his wife suffered a severe injury that left the family confronting the difficulties of managing both medical recovery and the challenges of raising children with special needs. It was, he said, a turning point — the moment he recognized his life’s purpose.

“I understood what it means to feel isolated, to be overwhelmed,” Rabbi Kenig explained. “And I knew there must be countless others feeling the same way. From that moment, I promised to create spaces of warmth, empathy, and rest for those who carry heavy burdens.”

Through Menucha V’Yeshua, that promise became reality. The organization’s programs — including large-scale Shabbatonim, personal counseling, and community events — have become lifelines for families across Israel struggling with loss.

When asked what drives him, Rabbi Kenig’s answer to VIN News was characteristically simple and profound: “My only goal is to give them — the widows, the children, the mothers, the fathers — a hug. To make them feel loved. That’s it.”

At his events, Rabbi Kenig often shares his personal story to bridge differences and dispel misconceptions. “People see me in my black-and-white garb, with a shtreimel, and they think I came to make them religious,” he said. “That’s not the message. The message is love. All I care about is listening, understanding, and embracing them — nothing more, nothing less.”

This sincerity, the VIN News report observed, has become the defining hallmark of Menucha V’Yeshua’s mission: meeting pain not with sermons, but with compassion.

The pinnacle of this historic journey will be an extraordinary Shabbos in Deal, New Jersey, a weekend that promises to be both deeply emotional and profoundly uplifting. VIN News reports that the event will bring together the bereaved families, donors, and supporters from across the region in a program filled with inspiration, Torah, and shared spirit.

The Shabbos will feature a roster of renowned speakers and special guests, including:

Rabbi YY Jacobson, one of the most sought-after Torah educators and inspirational figures in the Jewish world, who will deliver words of strength and hope.

Sivan Rahav-Meir, acclaimed journalist and Torah lecturer, whose powerful reflections on Jewish faith and resilience will add depth to the program.

A moving Hachnosas Sefer Torah ceremony dedicated to the memory of Israel’s fallen soldiers and in honor of the bereaved families.

A Bar Mitzvah celebration, symbolizing continuity, faith, and the Jewish people’s unbreakable bond through joy and sorrow alike.

As the VIN News report noted, this Shabbos is not merely a weekend event — it is an act of collective healing. Participants will have the rare opportunity to meet the bereaved mothers and children personally, hear their stories firsthand, and stand shoulder to shoulder with them in solidarity.

“This is more than a fundraising event,” VIN News wrote. “It is a moment of Jewish history in motion — a demonstration that Am Yisrael stands united, even in the aftermath of heartbreak.”

For the women traveling from Israel, the mission offers more than just rest and renewal — it offers validation. The message they will hear from the Jewish communities of America, as the VIN News report eloquently phrased it, is simple and eternal: “You are not alone. You are not forgotten. Am Yisrael embraces you.”

This message carries deep resonance. The mothers’ greatest fear, as Rabbi Kenig has often shared, is that the world will move on while their pain remains. By welcoming them with open arms, American Jewry affirms that the memory of their loved ones will endure — not just in Israel, but across the Jewish world.

VIN News reported that communities from New York to New Jersey, Florida to California, have already reached out to participate, demonstrating a remarkable outpouring of support. Local organizations have arranged hospitality, sponsorships, and events to ensure that the mothers and children experience warmth and honor at every stop.

“The Jewish people are one body,” Rabbi Kenig told VIN News. “When one part hurts, we all feel it. When one part heals, we all rejoice.”

He added that the unity sparked by this mission is itself a source of healing. “When these families see that Jews from every background — Chassidic, Modern Orthodox, traditional, or secular — are standing together with them, it brings them strength. It reminds them that their children’s sacrifices were not in vain.”

Menucha V’Yeshua’s efforts do not end when the trip concludes. As the VIN News report detailed, the organization continues to provide year-round support, counseling, and programming for bereaved families, ensuring that the bonds formed during this journey remain strong.

Future plans include expanded Shabbatonim, summer camps for children of fallen soldiers, and therapeutic retreats designed to address the long-term emotional and psychological needs of these families.

The public is invited to take part in this historic endeavor. Those wishing to contribute can do so by:

Joining the special Shabbos in Deal, NJ, to meet and support the visiting families.

Offering financial support to help fund future programming for bereaved families.

Contacting Rabbi Mendy Kenig and the Menucha V’Yeshua team directly to assist or participate in ongoing initiatives.

Rabbi Kenig can be reached at +972 52-715-1169 for more information.

As VIN News so poignantly summarized, this mission is far more than a trip — it is a living testament to Jewish unity and compassion. It reminds the world that while Israel’s enemies may seek to destroy life, they can never extinguish the spirit of Am Yisrael.

When these 170 mothers and their children arrive in New York, they will be greeted not as guests, but as family. And through every embrace, every tear, and every shared prayer, they will know the truth that sustains the Jewish nation through every generation:

We remember. We stand together. We will never forget.

Am Yisrael Chai.