It started with a simple request between friends. In 1925, Rahel Yanait Ben-Zvi was running a tree nursery in Jerusalem, training young women in agricultural work. She needed help building a well, so she reached out to her friend Sophie Udin in America. Seven women responded, raising $500—and unknowingly launching what would become a century-long movement.

Fast forward 100 years, and that small gesture has grown into NA'AMAT, an organization that touches lives across Israel every single day. From toddlers whose parents work full-time to mothers escaping domestic violence, from struggling teenagers to professional women climbing career ladders—NA'AMAT meets people where they are and helps them move forward.

Hagit Peer and representatives of Na’amat USA and Canada (credit: Naamat)
Hagit Peer and representatives of Na’amat USA and Canada (credit: Naamat)

A Family Reunion in Toronto

This past May, 150 women from the United States and Canada gathered in Toronto for what felt like the ultimate family reunion. They were celebrating not just a milestone, but a homecoming of sorts—because here's something most people don't know: NA'AMAT USA and NA'AMAT Canada started as one organization back in 1925, later splitting into separate branches.

"One hundred years ago we started as one," explained Susan Inhaber, president of NA'AMAT Canada. "By working together again, we've grown so much closer."

The weekend celebration had the creative flair you'd expect from a group of passionate women. Instead of typical speeches, they staged a fictional TV show called "What's Behind the Name," with members portraying the organization's famous founders—including Golda Meir—bringing history to life through storytelling.

Real Impact, Real Numbers

But behind the celebration lies serious work. In a typical year, NA'AMAT awards 180 scholarships to women pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees, plus eight research grants for doctoral students. They've recently renovated playgrounds at daycare centers in six Israeli cities and built a new middle school that's opening this September.

When tragedy struck on October 7, 2023, NA'AMAT didn't pause—they pivoted. An emergency fund helped build safe rooms, distributed care packages to women soldiers, and supported about 20,000 displaced Israelis with food, clothing, and programming.

"Your efforts impact lives across Israel every single day," Shirli Shavit from NA'AMAT's International Department told the North American supporters, and the numbers prove it. The Frieda Leemon Day Care Center in Ramleh alone serves 67 toddlers from disadvantaged backgrounds—and they're getting a new playground dedicated to past presidents.

More Than Just Aid

What makes NA'AMAT special isn't just what they do, but how they do it. This isn't charity from afar—it's sisterhood in action. Susan Miller, NA'AMAT USA's president, described planning the Toronto celebration as "like a wedding, with two families coming together." After 18 months of collaborative planning, the two organizations discovered something beautiful: they're stronger together.

"We stand on the shoulders of forward-thinking women who understood that when women are empowered, it improves the lives of families and ultimately Israeli society," Miller reflected.

A Celebration and a Statement

The Toronto weekend wasn't just about looking back—it was about moving forward with purpose. NA'AMAT International & NA'AMAT Israel President Hagit Pe'er delivered a keynote that acknowledged current realities while celebrating resilience: "We are a nation in ongoing trauma, and we will not heal until all the hostages return home. But our supreme mission today is to increase our circles of solidarity and declare loudly that we are here to stay."

The celebration concluded with attendees singing along to Barbra Streisand's performance of Hatikvah, and in a moment that perfectly captured the organization's spirit, they watched Israeli singer Yuval Raphael—a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre—perform at Eurovision 2025, declaring "Am Yisrael Chai."

From a $500 well in Jerusalem to safe rooms and scholarships, from seven women to thousands of supporters across two countries—NA'AMAT's story proves that when women come together with shared purpose, they don't just change individual lives. They change the world, one person at a time.

As Pe'er put it, "This is more than a celebration. It's a powerful reminder of what women can achieve when we come together with courage and love."