A disturbing trend has emerged in Israel's religious communities, according to leading organization Yad L'Achim. Recent data shows that one-third of their cases now involve women from Religious-Zionist and Ultra-Orthodox backgrounds, which means that there has been a significant shift in a problem traditionally associated with secular communities.
"The phenomenon has become increasingly common among religious high school graduates and mainstream Religious-Zionist families," a spokesperson for Yad L'Achim told reporters.
The issue gained renewed attention through the story of Liat (name changed), a young woman from a prominent Religious-Zionist settlement. Despite her strong Zionist upbringing - complete with siblings serving in elite IDF units - Liat found herself in what she describes as a dangerous relationship with an Arab coworker.
"We had everything materially," Liat revealed in a recorded testimony. "But what was missing was emotional warmth and love from my parents." This emotional void, she explains, made her vulnerable despite her traditional upbringing and awareness of cultural boundaries.
The relationship began innocuously at a workplace in central Israel, following her mandatory military service. What started as friendly conversations evolved into what Liat now recognizes as a pattern of manipulation and control. "He identified my emotional needs and filled them perfectly," she recounts.
The situation gradually deteriorated into obsessive behavior. "He demanded photos of my outfits each morning to judge their modesty. He tried to control what I wore, when I ate, who I spoke to," Liat shares. The relationship remained secret, forcing her to lie to family and friends, further isolating her from her support system.
And just like that, Liat and many others become embroiled in troubled relationships with Arab men, who buy them gifts and shower them with love, only to convince them to move to Gaza or the West Bank. Once these women do this, it's often too late, especially when they have children. Besides the fact that most of the time, these relationships become abusive, witht he woman being looked down on for being Jewish, the children are considered Muslim.
And what started out with hearts and roses, quickly becomes a life of suffering, degradation, abuse and hell.
Yad L'Achim knows about this intimately, as its volunteers go into Arab villages to rescue some of these women, but often they are forced to leave their children behind.
For many of them though, they stay there, trapped and doomed to a life of misery.
In response to this growing crisis, Yad L'Achim has launched a comprehensive educational initiative. Social workers from the organization now conduct lectures focusing on emotional resilience and national identity, with additional programs addressing nationalist terrorism, particularly in light of the October 7 attacks.
Tal Tzalmon, PR Director at Yad L'Achim, emphasizes that their approach goes beyond addressing individual cases. "We're looking at broader challenges faced by young religious women in today's society," Tzalmon explains. "This isn't just about extreme cases of assimilation - it's about understanding and countering the various pressures young women face in our modern world."
The organization is actively reaching out to educational institutions, national service programs, youth movements, and community organizations. Their message to parents and educators is clear: emotional support and family warmth are crucial protective factors against what they see as predatory relationships targeting vulnerable young women.
For more information about preventive programs and support services, communities can contact Yad L'Achim directly through their outreach department.
