At a time when Israel is navigating war, trauma, and social strain, Meira Lerner, director of World Emunah, delivered a clear message at the Jerusalem Post Miami Conference: investing in women, families, and community resilience is not optional – it is foundational. “Emunah is one of the largest social service organizations in Israel,” Lerner said. “We focus on education, welfare, and women’s empowerment through over 120 programs spread across the country, ” programs that range from children’s homes and daycare centers to therapeutic clinics, high schools, and even a college, forming what Lerner described as a comprehensive safety net for Israeli society.
World Emunah, she explained, serves as the global umbrella organization supporting Emunah Israel, the operational arm that runs these services on the ground. “World Emunah connects our affiliates all over the world who help support the incredible work we do in Israel,” she said, while also representing the movement in national and Zionist institutions.
That representation recently translated into tangible influence, as Lerner highlighted, noting Emunah’s strong showing at the World Zionist Congress, where the organization passed two key resolutions focused on women’s empowerment and leadership. “Those resolutions ultimately led to the election of an Emunah representative to the Zionist General Council,” she said, noting that she is currently “the only woman leading a major body within the national institutions.”
For Lerner, that milestone is symbolic of a much longer journey. Emunah was founded more than 90 years ago by pioneering religious Zionist women who “saw a country being built and wanted to take part in that mission.” That legacy came into sharp focus during Emunah’s 90th-anniversary Women’s Leadership Conference.
“We didn’t only want to reflect on our legacy,” Lerner said. “We wanted to celebrate the women who are leading Israel forward today, and show the next generation that they have role models to aspire to.” Since October 7, Emunah’s therapeutic centers have taken on an even greater role, particularly in addressing the mental health toll of war. Lerner spoke movingly about “the heroes behind the heroes” – the spouses and families of reservists – who are receiving couples therapy, family counseling, and targeted support groups. “Just because soldiers are adults," she concluded, "doesn’t mean their mothers stopped worrying about them."
This article was written in collaboration with World Emunah.