Momentum, a global movement that empowers Jewish women to lead a Jewish future, collaborated with “Mothers with Meaning” on a first-of-its-kind communal signing event to spread the light for the Chanukah season and to celebrate how women find strength in one another.
The event, overseen by the popular mass-singing initiative Koolulam, and organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, also marked 10 years of Momentum engaging Israeli women in the movement’s “Journey of Growth”—an eight-day trip to Israel that provides women with the opportunity to delve into the spirit of Jewish unity that defines their homeland.
Together, the women sang “Everything That Has Happened Here Will Change Tomorrow,” an inspirational ballad released in 2021 that took on a new and profound meaning after the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023. As the world awaits the return of the estimated 100 hostages being held in Gaza, singing this song was a way for the two organizations to give a voice to those hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Mothers with Meaning” was launched when its founder the late Michal Melamed-Cohen joined a Momentum trip in Israel and was inspired by the movement’s vision of unity without uniformity. It’s part of the VLU Association, a social umbrella organization impacting tens of thousands of Israelis a year. It strives to promote Jewish wisdom and identity by offering programs for women and young adults that inspire personal growth and collective action.
Since then, “Mothers with Meaning” became the first organization to work with Momentum to include Israeli women in its trips and is one of the movement’s most valued partners. The name applies Momentum’s mission of leveraging Jewish wisdom to enact meaningful social change and, to date, is a network of some 1,000 Israeli women who are active members of their communities and are committed to tikkun olam (“repairing the world”).
The two organizations tapped Koolulam—the social-musical initiative aimed at strengthening the fabric of Israeli society by bringing people from all walks of life to sing together—to oversee this celebratory event and to provide attendees with the lyrics so everyone could sing along.
Israeli first lady Michal Herzog praised the organizations in a video statement at the event, saying, “I thank Momentum and ‘Mothers with Meaning’ for fostering a powerful partnership that fulfills our purpose as mothers since the dawn of humanity. A mother’s work is never done; its demands on us on an emotional and physical level are unparalleled. At a time when Israeli society is in need of repair more than ever, these organizations enable mothers to be agents of change in their community where they are guided by Jewish wisdom and principles.”
Founder and partner Chani Shternlicht said, “The ‘Mothers with Meaning’ movement proves, day after day, the incredible power of influence that every Jewish-Israeli mother has over the present and future of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.”
“There is no doubt that our collaboration with the global Momentum movement and the steadfast support we receive from the VLU group gives life into our mission, inspiring us to continue making an impact,” she added.
The event comes in tandem with the organization’s campaign called “This Year I Will, This Year We Will,” which encourages Momentum participants to find ways to come together and give back to their Jewish community, individually or collectively.
Momentum is a strong proponent of collaborating with other Jewish organizations around the world; as such, it has worked with more than 300 organizational partners to coordinate its myriad activities. The movement was founded in 2009 and has brought 24,000 participants from 36 countries to Israel. Since Oct. 7, some 800 participants from 15 countries have visited Israel with Momentum to bear witness to Israel’s story and share what they heard with their communities when they return home. Momentum is also fully connected to the organizational ecosystem across the Jewish world, maintaining partnerships with approximately 350 Jewish organizations and federations.
Momentum is a global movement focused on the greatest influencer: the Jewish mother. Through transformational journeys to Israel, leadership fellowships, a robust multimedia platform and expansive resources for Jewish learning, Momentum inspires Jewish mothers to live their most meaningful lives and transform themselves, their families and their communities. Since Momentum’s founding in 2008, more than 23,000 individuals from 35 countries have experienced its flagship program, the Momentum Yearlong Journey. In 2023, Momentum was awarded the Jerusalem Unity Prize for its dedication to promoting unity without uniformity in Israel and across the Jewish world.