A Fairy Tale Come True With a background in psychology (BA) and social work (MA), and with experience working for Jewish community non-profits since she was just 16 years old, Iris Mizrahi is well-suited to serve as the head of EFRAT’s US office, a position she sees as a privilege. Her first case involved a 23-year-old unmarried woman from the New York area. During a trip to Israel to attend a friend's wedding, she suddenly discovered that she was pregnant. Her parents were ashamed of her and wanted nothing to do with her plight, and as soon as she returned home, she faced immense pressure from her boyfriend and his mother to terminate the pregnancy. Abandoned by her parents, shunned by her boyfriend, and with no support, she felt trapped and hopeless. Her one ray of hope was the EFRAT volunteer, who was in daily contact with her, providing her with crucial emotional support, and subsequently also helped her find housing and a job. In a heartwarming twist, after the woman gave birth to a boy, the baby’s father fell in love with their son —and eventually with her. He took upon himself all the preparations for the brit, and soon afterward, they married. Today they are happily married and expecting their second child. “Nothing better sums ups EFRAT’s Iris shares another powerful story that emerged just weeks later, when a woman from Florida reached out to her. She had been suffering from kidney issues exacerbated by COVID-19, and was unexpectedly pregnant. Due to her pre-existing condition, the woman’s nephrologist warned that her pregnancy could be life-threatening. Desperate for guidance and unwilling to abort without sufficient reason, she turned to Iris, who quickly mobilized a network of doctors in the U.S. and Israel to review her case. Through a whirlwind of consultations and appointments obtained in record time, the doctors concluded that the pregnancy was definitely not life-threatening, and that the woman could carry to term, with certain restrictions. Despite immense challenges—four other children, a husband recovering from a car accident, and homeschooling—the woman gave birth to a premature baby girl, Odelia Margalit. Iris remained by her side throughout, providing unwavering support through video calls, visits, accompanying her to the doctor, and by leveraging existing community resources to provide basic assistance. Looking to the Future As the reach of EFRAT’s US office continues to grow, Iris reflects on the future. Her vision is clear: “Moving forward, we need to build more awareness that we exist, provide more programming, and increase our volunteer base.” life-changing impact,” Iris observes. A Lifesaving Network
women while also spreading the word of EFRAT further afield, ensuring that no woman will be left alone to face her challenges. As is the case in Israel, some of the women who have been helped by EFRAT, like Odelia Margalit’s mother, go on to become volunteers themselves, eager to give back to the organization that gave them so much. The stories of hope and resilience told by Iris and other volunteers serve as powerful reminders of the profound impact that compassion and support can have on lives in crisis. In Israel, and now in the US, EFRAT does not just give women a choice by providing immediate aid, it creates lasting change, saving families from breakdown and supporting women so that they can face their challenges, empowered and with renewed confidence.
Doula Dolly gives a session on birth and breastfeeding at the EFRAT shelter.
Iris Mizrahi
Trivia Night with Reb. Sterna Bronstein at the EFRAT shelter
Iris with Coach Moran Reiter at the EFRAT shelter.
EFRAT’s volunteers are its lifeblood; these dedicated individuals assist by providing support to individual
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