At the beginning of July, 25-year-old Athar Aboreesh boarded a flight to the United States with a single suitcase of clothes. But what she carried with her, far heavier than luggage, was the grief of losing her father. She was traveling not as a tourist but as a counselor on the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization’s ‘Superheroes Trip’ - a three-week journey for IDF orphans marking their Bar and Bat Mitzvah. She had no way of knowing that this trip would bring her connection, belonging, and a resilience she hadn’t yet discovered.
A Life Marked by Loss
Athar grew up in the Druze village of Yarka in northern Israel. Her father, Hani Aboreesh, was the center of her world: a devoted parent, a man of duty, and a constant source of strength.
Three years ago, during Eid al-Adha, her family went to Betset Beach next to Rosh Hanikra. When her younger sister was suddenly pulled under by rough waves, panic set in. Athar screamed for her father, who rushed into the sea without hesitation. He managed to rescue his daughter and bring her to safety. But in the process, he was unable to fight the current himself.
“We lost him there, in the sea,” Athar recalls, her voice breaking. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Two months later, the Israel Defense Forces officially recognized her father as a fallen soldier. The classification may have come after his death, but for Athar, it captured the essence of who he was. “Whether it was his daughter or a stranger, he was committed to saving a life. That was part of his duty.”
A Path Toward Healing
Like many children of fallen soldiers, Athar found herself adrift - grieving, but also searching for a community that could understand her pain. Through the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFWO), she discovered Otzma Plus, a program created for orphans in their twenties.
“They always strive to do everything for us, truly everything,” she says. “When you feel that kind of support, you want to give back. That’s why I joined the U.S. trip not just to participate, but to be a counselor. I wanted to guide younger kids, to help them, the way others helped me.”
The trip she joined was IDFWO’s annual Superheroes Program - a three-week journey that has, for more than a decade and a half, brought Bar and Bat Mitzvah-age orphans of the IDF to the United States. The 2025 itinerary included a first stop in Chicago, ten days at Camp Chi in Wisconsin, then on to Deal, New Jersey, and finally New York City.
Healing Through Connection
Though she came as a counselor, Athar quickly realized that she was on a journey of her own. “Three years after losing my father, I still hadn’t managed to breathe properly, or move on,” she admits. “This was my first trip as an orphan and, at the same time, as a counselor. From that vulnerable position, I discovered a strength I didn’t know I had.”
The first days were difficult. “I walked around with a lump in my throat. I was scared of talking about my pain, scared of feeling it again, scared it would break me. And I wondered - if I feel this way as an adult, what about these kids?”
The turning point came sooner than expected. “On the very first night, one of the girls asked if I was also an orphan. I said yes. She hugged me silently. In that moment, something inside me opened. Suddenly, I no longer felt alone. They understood me without me saying a word.”
It was a moment that defined the trip. Athar came to guide, but she discovered she was also there to be healed.
A Memorial Away from Home
One of the most emotional days came when Athar marked her father’s memorial during the trip. “It happened while we were in the U.S.,” she explains. “At home, the two previous memorials had been filled with heaviness and silence. This time was different. Instead of being overwhelmed by sadness, I found myself surrounded by love. The counselors, the participants, everyone reflected something from my heart. I can’t explain it. But in America, I felt supported in my grief.”
That sense of togetherness, she says, carried the entire delegation.
Becoming Family
The group quickly became a family. “We were so close-knit,” Athar remembers. “If one girl cried, we counselors didn’t rush in. We waited. And then we saw her friends comfort her, reassure her: we understand you. Watching them care for each other was incredibly moving.”
As counselors, the responsibility was immense. “The kids never slept alone. We always stayed in their rooms, at least two counselors every night. We woke them up, since they had no phones. We reminded them of daily schedules. We were like older siblings - even like parents.”
This role opened something new inside her. “I realized I had patience I never knew existed. Kids constantly challenge you - how you act, how you respond. It’s tough to always be the best version of yourself. But it was also beautiful. When I got home, I told my mom, ‘That’s it, I’m ready for kids.’ She laughed and said, ‘Wait - you only think you’re ready.’”
While every day brought joy and challenges, one experience with the Syrian Jewish Community in Deal, New Jersey stands out clearly for Athar. "We visited a host family’s home, and it was amazing. They offered us unconditional love. They welcomed my girls and me with such warmth. That day spent with the host family was one of my most memorable. It made me feel like I was part of a bigger family."
A Shared Humanity
Among the most touching situations for Athar was with a Druze girl in the delegation who only spoke Arabic. “She didn’t know any Hebrew. Watching her try to communicate with the other kids, to talk about her pain, to form friendships - it was so moving. The way the others embraced her, not just physically but with words, with gestures, with patience. It was beautiful.”
For Athar, these moments captured the heart of the trip: a shared humanity that transcended differences. “People say the language of children is universal. And it’s true. When there is empathy, words aren’t always necessary.”
On the IDFWO Superheroes Program, grief is shared by orphans from every background - Jewish, religious and secular, Druze, and Bedouin. What unites them is the sacrifice their fathers made in service of Israel.
From Pain to Hope
As Athar puts it, her father was “the best person I ever met.” He taught her that, "life is a journey of learning and growth," and was more than a father. “He was a best friend and a life teacher,” she asserts. In every step she takes, Athar carries his courage, his generosity, and the light he was, which is why she now guides others.
She knows the pain never disappears. But she wants other bereaved children to know it can be transformed. “The pain will stay with us forever. But it’s important to know who to share it with. On this trip, I learned that pain can be turned into strength. As difficult as it is, each of us has incredible strength inside. Don’t just live with the pain - allow yourself to laugh, dance, smile, and live. Everyone deserves that.”
Looking back, she believes the journey was about much more than sightseeing. It was, in her words, a lifeline. “Honestly, I believe this delegation saves lives. Every donation, every act of support, every bit of kindness - it’s a spark of hope for someone in pain. It doesn’t just change lives; it saves them. I hope every child and counselor can experience what I did. From the bottom of my heart.”
This article was written in collaboration with IDF Widows & Orphans Organization (IDFWO).