Helping Israeli Mothers Say “Yes” to Life

Helping Israeli Mothers Say “Yes” to Life

By: Nativia Samuelson, ICEJ AID Administrator

In a small hospital room in Jerusalem, a young Israeli mother cradles her newborn son. Her eyes are tired, and her body is weak, but her heart is full. Just a few months earlier, she had been alone, afraid, and moments away from choosing abortion. Today, she is a hopeful woman who chose life in the face of despair.

Across Israel, stories like this are unfolding—quiet, courageous stories of women who find themselves at impossible crossroads. Some are teenagers. Others are single mothers, survivors of abuse, trauma, or addiction. Many are abandoned by partners, shunned by family, or struggling in poverty. And yet, amid their crisis, they are choosing to say “yes” to life.

By funding pro-life counselors, providing baby supplies, and ensuring aid for these women for the first year after birth, the ICEJ is helping these mothers turn fear into faith and uncertainty into love.

Here are some their stories.

Rachel

At just 26, Rachel was facing a future she never imagined—pregnant, abandoned, and completely alone. The baby’s father was pressuring her to end the pregnancy. Her family offered no support. Fear closed in, paralyzing and relentless. But then, someone offered practical help—and everything changed. In that moment, Rachel paused, took a breath, and chose life.

Then, just a month before her due date, she was evicted from her apartment. With nowhere else to go, she moved in temporarily with the baby’s father—an unexpected shift that began to heal their broken relationship. Now a mother, she walks her baby through the neighborhood in a stroller, singing lullabies as she goes, grateful to be a mother.

Dana

In another corner of Jerusalem, Dana was juggling far more than most. At 39, she was caring for her disabled husband, plus children with special needs, while also managing a spinal injury. The news of an unplanned pregnancy was overwhelming. She did not see a way forward. But with practical help and emotional support from an ICEJ sponsorship—including baby supplies and someone to talk to—she slowly began to feel less trapped. She chose to continue the pregnancy, and when her son was born, she was a different woman. She still carried fear but was now steadied by resolve and a deepened sense of purpose. Dana named her baby boy Lior, which means, “My Light.”

Liat

Support made the difference for Liat too. Estranged from her ultra-Orthodox family, she faced a high-risk pregnancy completely alone. With no partner and no other plan, abortion felt like her only option. But after reaching out to local ICEJ-supported pro-life counselors, her life-story changed. Consistent help and loving care made all the difference. When she was hospitalized at 31 weeks, Liat finally called her sister. Two days later, her son was born, and her parents, once distant, came to meet their grandson. It was a vital step toward a new beginning.

Esther

Esther was just 18 years old and 17 weeks pregnant when her boyfriend disappeared. Upon hearing about the pregnancy, her parents were furious and threatened to kick her out. Terrified and isolated, Esther saw abortion as the only way to keep things from completely falling apart. But with consistent encouragement from pro-life counselors, she held on. The support did not change her situation overnight, but it helped her find the strength to face it. In time, her parents came around. Her mother stood beside her in the delivery room when baby Yonatan was born.

Each of these women stood at a crossroads, overwhelmed by fear or isolation, and found the stability to choose a different way forward. And with someone walking alongside them, what once felt impossible became manageable.

We may not be able to undo the pain, poverty, or fear these women face, but we can respond with care, consistency, and compassion. Light has the power to push back the darkness, and sometimes, even the smallest glimmer is enough to change the course of a life.