For Extended Families of Fallen IDF Soldiers, the Pain Endures but Comforting Hearts Soothe the Wounds

JERUSALEM, Israel – Often, when soldiers die in battle, their parents and other family members can feel forgotten after the funeral and other ceremonies. CBN Israel is working with one organization to support those grieving parents and siblings and help meet their longer-term needs.

Light to the Families Foundation ("Or L'Mishpacha" in Hebrew) has one message: "Choose Life."

Irit Oren Gunders, the organization's CEO and founder, told CBN News, "We do everything, and I mean everything, to help parents who sent their children to serve in the army, to contribute to a strong and proud State of Israel – educated their children to give, to be leaders. And the children went out to serve and didn't come home."

When soldiers die, the focus tends to be on helping their surviving spouse and children.

Light to the Families knows parents and siblings need support as well.

Gunders says their work extends beyond the funeral and cemetery as they focus on families returning home and beyond.

"And to give them hope, to build them towers of hope," she explained. " As long as they remember the child, the child lives. The soldiers are the symbol of the world. They are the biggest, most wonderful crown on which the State of Israel was built."

Chantal and Nicky Young immigrated to Israel when the war began. Their son Natanel, serving in the Israel Defense Forces, became one of the first October 7th casualties as terrorists invaded his base.

"My pain will always be great," Chantal declared. "My heart is broken and that's never going to heal, but what (does) help is to see that people care. Also, I have my family and my family is very important to me and my grandchildren."

Young believes Light to the Families plays an important role by providing activities to cheer them up and give them strength. 

"It's not about free concerts, it's not about that," she said. "It's about they are caring and it's really important. I want to thank them."

Gunders met Nati Perry when he served as an IDF officer in 2006. She saw how he cared for the family of one of his fallen soldiers. In December 2023, Perry's own son, Itay, a 36-year-old father of three, died in battle.

"Irit said that she wanted to bring us light, to bring us happiness," Perry told us. "I can't say that it is happiness. We suffer every day. We think about our sons every day, of course, but this organization brings us something that we couldn't imagine (would) happen. I didn't believe that I (would) be a part of it. But we take part (in) it and we like it."

Perry also told us he appreciates the help of Christians.

Sensait Raviv lost her youngest son, Lior, in battle in Gaza.

"Irit is the chairman of this Or L'Mishpachot and she really wants that everybody continues living – everybody continues living. She doesn't want that we will only stay at home, inside the house, and crying all the time, because life continues anyway," Raviv observed.

For Gunders, the partnership with CBN Israel helps her support the bereaved families.

"We are closing the curtain on the pain and opening a gate to hope," she noted. "This is the gate of hope, and you are helping me open the gates of hope to the people and the parents that we owe so much to every day, every hour. You've opened a gate."

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