Since October 7th, Israel has faced the largest wave of IDF widowhood in its history with over 350 IDF and security personnel widows left behind.
Kuma provides critical stability and long-term support, helping these widows rebuild their lives from the ground up.
“Gift baskets or a fun day at the spa offer a moment of joy, but Kuma provides something far more rare: stability”
Revital Markovitchi, widow of Sgt. Aaron Arthur Markovitchi
At Kuma, we see the woman behind the widow.
We provide the professional partnership and emotional anchor required for widows to share the burden of loss while seeking practical solutions for the here,
the now, and the future.
We replace uncertainty with a firm foundation. By bridging the gap between State benefits and the actual cost of raising a family, Kuma ensures that a hero’s sacrifice doesn't result in his family’s financial collapse.
Navigating the Israeli Ministry of Defense is a full-time job that requires an emotional bandwidth most widows simply don't have.
Kuma acts as a professional partner, sitting side-by-side with each woman to ensure she receives every shekel and service she is owed.
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Kuma provides tax-deductible pathways in the US, Israel, UK, Canada, and Australia.
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100% Impact. 0% Overhead.
At Kuma, every dollar from public donations goes directly to our families. Our operational costs and overhead are fully covered by a dedicated circle of private funders. When you give to Kuma, you are investing directly in the women rebuilding Israel.
Your contribution ensures that while Israel’s heroines raise the next generation, they never have to carry the weight of the future alone.
“Knowing I don’t have to carry these heavy decisions alone is how I know I am truly seen”
Reut Shabtai, widow of Guy Shabtai
Kuma supports widows of IDF soldiers and security personnel who fell in the line of duty during the Iron Swords War and are officially recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
We serve women from all backgrounds, sectors, and communities across Israel, without regard to religious affiliation or geographic location.
Kuma offers structured, short and long-term care that includes tailored guidance, monthly stipends, emergency grants, rights navigation, and logistical assistance. The ripple effect leads to emotional stability within the families.
Kuma was launched in February 2025 in response to the Iron Swords War. The program is rapidly scaling to support 325 widows by 2026. We are committed to walking alongside each widow for a five-year journey, providing consistent and structured support through 2029.
Given the evolving nature of the crisis, we have built in formal program reviews after program year 4 to evaluate the continued need for Kuma among the widow community and determine in what capacity the program should operate moving forward.
Kuma’s team provides hands-on, step-by-step support to help widows navigate complex government systems and fully understand the rights and benefits available to them. Staff proactively inform each widow of her entitlements, explain eligibility and application processes, and advocate on her behalf throughout the process. This includes assistance with document collection and submission, navigating online government portals, and follow-up with relevant authorities—often unlocking significant, previously unclaimed benefits and replacing confusion and frustration with clarity, dignity, and access.
While the Ministry of Defense provides important baseline support, it is often limited in scope, highly regulated, and difficult to navigate. Many services are available only in major cities, leaving widows in peripheral or rural areas with limited access. In addition, support is frequently restricted to specific service types or pre-approved providers—such as a limited list of therapists—which may not align with a widow’s individual needs. Kuma complements government support by offering flexible, personalized, and responsive assistance, including access to alternative therapeutic options and tailored support solutions, ensuring that care is accessible, timely, and appropriate to each widow’s circumstances.
Given the evolving nature of the crisis, we have built in formal program reviews after program year 4 to evaluate the continued need for Kuma among the widow community and determine in what capacity the program should operate moving forward.
Many organizations provide important enrichment programs, retreats, or one-time gifts that offer meaningful moments of relief. Kuma addresses a different and critical need: long-term, structured support. Kuma combines ongoing financial assistance with hands-on case management and outcome-driven planning, accompanying widows over time to stabilize their households, navigate complex systems, and rebuild sustainable lives. This sustained, individualized model fills a gap that short-term or episodic interventions cannot address.
Referrals come from the Ministry of Defense, IDF casualty officers, rabbis, social workers, social media, widow support groups, other widows and primarily direct outreach. We actively seek out widows—rather than waiting for them to come to us.
Our Program Director, Shlomit Peretz, is an IDF widow of 15 years and active in national widow networks. Our Senior Advisor, Shlomit Kalmanzon, is a respected advocate and widow of the Iron Swords War. Their presence ensures trust, sensitivity, and immediate connection.
Sulamot’s proven success in managing large scale operations with sensitivity and efficiency is a major factor as well.
Kuma is built for sustained impact, not one-time intervention. Families typically receive support for up to five years, with flexibility to continue when circumstances require. The model is designed to stabilize families in the immediate aftermath of loss while intentionally building toward long-term independence and security.
Immediate support: Monthly stipends address essential, ongoing needs such as childcare, household support, and therapeutic services. Emergency relief grants respond to urgent or time-sensitive expenses, including medical costs, critical home repairs, and significant family milestones.
Long-term support: Kuma’s professional team partners with each widow to plan for a stable future. This includes long-term financial planning, guidance through first-time homeownership, and support in building savings and financial resilience—so families are not only surviving, but positioned to move forward with strength and dignity.
Yes. We adjust support based on family dynamics, employment, government aid, and emergencies—always guided by real-time needs.
“They walk me through my finances and provide the targeted aid my family actually needs”
Lior Becher, widow of Gal Becher
התורמים של קומה
Having walked closely with our widows through the shadows of the Iron Swords War, I have seen the true meaning of courage. Amidst the loss, one essential truth remains: Kuma exists to ensure that no woman is left to carry her burden in solitude.
Through the Kuma Program, we are deeply committed to these extraordinary women who have sacrificed so much for our people. It is our sacred responsibility to work with excellence – ensuring they have every resource and support they need to rebuild and thrive.
As an IDF widow, I know that the journey of loss is long. Through Kuma, I have found a profound way to ensure no woman walks this path alone. We are here to hold you, to support your rebuilding, and to make sure you have every resource you need to rise again.
My husband’s sacrifice on October 7th drives my commitment to every IDF widow. At Sulamot, we combine strategic advocacy with a sisterhood of hope. I want every woman to see in our mission the promise that she is never alone, and that together, we have the strength to rebuild our lives with dignity and strength.
Kuma is a true privilege to be part of. The impact on these families lives are real and impactful.
The strength and humility these women possess, is beyond words. Their husbands gave everything for our people. Standing beside them is simply the least we can do.
Meeting families who have experienced loss taught us that no two journeys are the same. Kuma was created from this understanding with a deep commitment to personalized, sensitive, and dignified support.
It is a true privilege to accompany Kuma’s widows, easing their daily burdens while providing the financial tools to strategically plan for the future. By offering professional guidance with sensitivity and care, we empower every widow to build long-term stability and peace of mind.
I am driven by the incredible strength of these women. As the point of contact for their daily needs, I manage the logistics and benefits that turn our community’s solidarity into real, tangible support. I am here to ensure that every detail is handled so they have the foundation to rebuild.
Whether you are looking to partner with our mission or you are a family seeking support, we are standing by to walk with you.
