Momentum in the News

February 10, 2020 - Cleveland mother’s adventure started in Israel

The days of our journey did not seem to have enough hours, as we were getting to know each other and Israel. Since our return to Cleveland, we have gathered for meals, mimosas, learning and latka making, with more gatherings scheduled. Continue Reading

January 22, 2020 - Ruach soars on JET-sponsored MoMENtum Israel journey

“We felt that the MoMENtum trip was an opportunity for someone to take the time away from their families to connect with themselves and their Jewish souls,” Wachsman said. “For us, it wasn’t a trip to Israel [for the men] to connect [with their faith] in a vacuum, but it would be a springboard for sparking the Jewish neshama, the soul, to want to explore Judaism more.” Continue Reading

December 31, 2019 - Night of Inspiration to feature educator Adrienne Goild Davis

The Deborah & Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement, a division of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, will present its third Night of Inspiration featuring Adrienne Gold Davis on Jan. 13 at Olympic Heights Performing Arts Center, 20101 Lyons Road in Boca Raton. Continue Reading

August 15, 2019 - Tearful reunion for Aussie mum (Australian Jewish News)

Celeste Tucker of Perth never expected to be visiting a child in the IDF. In fact, she moved to Australia so her kids would not need to serve.
“When we left South Africa it was Australia or Israel, and we chose Australia because we didn’t want our sons going in the army,” she said, “Yet now I have my little five-feet-five daughter in the army.” Continue Reading

August 15, 2019 - Pilot Trip Brings Mothers (The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle)

Stacie Stufflebeam has five sons. Four have made aliyah and joined the IDF. Continue Reading

Aug. 14, 2019 - For Moms Of Lone Soldiers, It’s A Mix Of Pride And Fear (The New York Jewish Week)

For Dalia Khakshoor, pride in her soldier daughter and the figure she cuts in a crisp, desert sand-colored military uniform, collides uneasily with helplessness, and even fear.
During her daughter’s first year of service as a so-called “lone soldier,” one who has no family in Israel, “I barely slept due to worry and being far away and not knowing how she was doing,” she said. Khakshoor, who lives in Great Neck, L.I., finds it “very, very difficult. I can’t be there for her in Israel when she needs me.” Continue Reading

Aug. 9, 2019 - Palm Beach County Jewish women take impactful journeys to Israel (Florida Jewish Journal)

Dinie Scheiner, PBS’ rebbetzin and director of its Hebrew school and women’s programming, said, “This is my fourth year of leading women’s groups to Israel as I’ve taken over 40 women already in the last four years, and every year the women come back completely inspired and connected to their Judaism, their spirituality and to Israel.” Continue Reading

Aug. 7, 2019 - The Jewish World - Delegation Of Lone Soldier Mothers Visiting Israel (ILTV)

Celeste Tucker from Australia is in Israel on a birthright tour – but not your typical tour – she is here as part of a delegation of lone soldier mothers on a momentum journey that brings together mothers from the USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the UK – to visit and tour around Israel. Watch the interview here

Aug. 7, 2019 - Mothers of Lone Soldiers (United with Israel)

A group of mothers from the organization “Momentum” shared a special moment with their sons and daughters who are currently serving voluntarily in the Israeli army.
Watch and see not only the emotion but the pride these mothers have in their children and their love for the Jewish state.

Continue Reading

Aug. 6, 2019 - Lone Soldier Moms Visit Israel for an Emotional Reunion (Jewish Boston)

The trip was facilitated by Momentum, once the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project. Continue Reading

Aug. 5, 2019 - Lori Palatnik Interview with Nachum Segal (Nachum Segal Network)

Nachum interviewed Lori Palatnik, Founding Director of Momentum, who called in live to this morning’s JM in the AM while leading the current Momentum Mission to Israel with mothers of lone soldiers. Listen Here

Aug. 5, 2019 - IDF Lone Soldiers Give Their Visiting Mothers a Special Treat (i24 News)

i24 News: A group of mothers from the organization “Momentum” shared a special moment with their sons and daughters who are currently serving Israel’s Defense Force voluntarily. Watch

Aug. 4, 2019 - Lori Palatnik Interview - (Kan Broadcasting)

Lori discusses the Mothers of Lone Soldiers delegation. Listen here (34:16)

Aug. 1, 2019 - At Home, Away from Home (Chicago Jewish News)

A Chicago mom reflects on what it’s like to have a son serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Continue Reading

Aug. 1, 2019 - President Rivlin meets with delegation of lone soldiers’ mothers (The Times of Israel)

President Reuven Rivlin met with a delegation of 30 mothers of IDF lone soldiers from North America on Thursday. The delegation was organized by Momentum, a government-backed Jewish outreach organization that includes trips to Israel for mothers.

“Your children are not really lone soldiers, because they are with us. My home is always open to them and every holiday Nechama and I always hosted lone soldiers at our table,” said Rivlin. “We say, ‘On your walls, Jerusalem, I have stationed guards.’ Your children are the guards, and not just of Jerusalem.” Continue Reading

Aug. 1, 2019 - A New Lone-Soldier Initiative (The Jerusalem Post)

Lori Palatnik, founding director of MOMentum – a global initiative that empowers women, especially mothers, to transform themselves, their families, their communities, and the world – was tremendously excited when speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

Yet another dream of the Orthodox outreach educator, author, blogger and public speaker from Rockville, Maryland, had been realized. Continue Reading

Aug. 1, 2019 - Mothers of IDF 'Lone Soldiers' meet with President Rivlin (Israel National News)

A delegation of 29 mothers of active IDF “Lone Soldiers” is visiting Israel as part of a special Momentum Journey (formerly known as the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project – JWRP), in partnership with The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Nefesh B’Nefesh. Continue Reading

July 24, 2019 - Toronto Sisters Bond With Thousands of 'Sisters' in Israel (The Canada Jewish News)

Most summers, we bond with our families at a cottage or campground or just in the backyard, around a campfire or a wading pool, cooling off and getting away from it all. But this July, three sisters from Toronto, Abby, Hilary and Liz Goldstein, took off on the journey of a lifetime – with Momentum, a program that brings Jewish women from all walks of life to Israel. Continue Reading

June 12 2019 - Israel of the Heart (Jewish Journal)

“Despite being Jewish and having worked for a decade as a travel writer in my 30s, it never had occurred to me to travel to Israel before. It hadn’t seemed personally relevant or essential…” Continue Reading

June 12, 2019 - Momentum Launches Multimedia Platform for Jewish Moms Around the World (The Jewish Voice)

Original videos, podcasts, and columns tap into parenting, mental health, relationships, and more, bringing “Jewish to life” – Continue reading

May 21 2019 - 10 Years for the Momentum Jewish Mothers' Revolution (Israel National News)

“The one thing all these women have in common is that they’re all mothers. They all have children under the age of eighteen at home. And they’re coming from all these countries and cultures and within 24 hours, they become sisters, because we share the same values. We focus on what unites us and not what divides us,” said Momentum Founding Director Lori Palatnik. “Today is the anniversary of the tenth year of the first trip of women who ever came on momentum to Israel.” – Continue Reading

May 21, 2019 - ‘Birthright for Moms’ marks 10 years and more than 17,000 participants (JTA)

May 21, 2019
“When we launched the movement 10 years ago, our goal was to inspire greater pride and identity among Jewish mothers based on timeless values,” said Lori Palatnik of Washington, D.C., who founded Momentum. “While the Israel experience will remain central to that concept, with Momentum, we’re thrilled to embrace a far broader vision. We’re bringing ‘Jewish to life’ for women throughout the world, enabling them to tap into Jewish inspiration and wisdom everyday and to apply it to every avenue of their lives.”  Continue Reading

Nov. 25, 2018 - Turkey on a map of Diaspora Jewry (Israel National News)

November 18, 2018 <br>More than 400 Jewish women from around the world visited Israel during the past week as a part of the MOMentum project of the JWRP (Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project) and the Israeli Diaspora Ministry. Included among the women participating in the current campaign are groups from the United States and Canada and, surprisingly, a group of women from Turkey.
Continue Reading

Nov. 2018 - Returning to Pittsburgh, From Israel (Hadassah Magazine)

November 2018
When I visited Israel for the first time two weeks ago, I tried to keep concerns about safety in the back of my mind as I traveled an unfamiliar country on a tour with other Jewish women. I need not have bothered, as I was worried about the wrong place. Continue Reading