For Adele, 22, becoming one of the first women to serve in an all-female tank crew during her military service was never a conscious decision. For her, it was simply a natural path. However, what has stayed with her are the reactions of others – their surprise, questions, and even disbelief.
“People kept asking why I would choose this, why I would ‘do this to myself,’” Adele, who asked that her identity not be revealed, told The Jerusalem Report. “But that way of thinking never, ever resonated with me.”
Adele’s story is not only about one brave young woman in uniform. She is part of a much longer continuum of courageous Israeli women serving their country, stretching back to Israel’s founding and the battlefields of its 1948 War of Independence.
Their unique story and extraordinary contributions to the state are captured at the Women of Valor Center in Nitzanim, near Ashkelon, under the auspices of the Society for the Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS).
Now, as the stories of female soldiers and other courageous women have moved to the forefront of Israel’s military narrative after more than two years of war, there are plans to expand the site and deepen its educational mission, aimed at emphasizing the role of women in defending Israel.
The vision is to grow the Women of Valor Center into a leading hub for women’s studies, with seminar and conference facilities designed to inspire young women from Israel and around the world.
A legacy forged in 1948
For years, the center has preserved the spirit of bravery, telling the stories of women who contributed to the country’s survival and development.
One of the central stories is that of Mira Ben-Ari, a radio operator on Kibbutz Nitzanim during the 1948 war. She refused to evacuate with her infant son, instead pinning a note to his coat reading: “I am bidding farewell to my son, so that he will grow up in a safe place and be a free man in his land.” Mira died in the battle.
For Mirit Melal-Kashel, who manages the center, the goal has never been only to preserve history. It is about continuity – showing how the spirit of responsibility and commitment embodied by women like Mira Ben-Ari continues into the present day.
Even before October 7, plans were underway to expand the center. The vision was to broaden the narrative space by connecting early pioneers and fighters with contemporary service, making the site relevant to new generations.
“Our responsibility to the next generation is clear,” Melal-Kashel told The Jerusalem Report. “We want to show everyone – not just women – the importance of giving your all for the common goal. It’s not only about combat. It’s about any field where a person can contribute their skills.”
Renewed urgency
After the attacks of October 7, the meaning of the center’s work deepened.
“I have been telling Mira Ben-Ari’s story for many years,” Melal-Kashel said. “After October 7, it hit me differently. It felt urgent in a new way.”
For several months, the center – located a few kilometers from Gaza – was closed as rockets fell and soldiers operated nearby. When it reopened, it introduced an immersive space connecting the women of 1948 with those of today.
The renewed content was dedicated to Sgt. Yael Leibshor, a spotter at the Nahal Oz outpost who was killed on October 7. Before enlisting, Leibshor had volunteered with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).
Shani, a lone combat soldier from California, sees the increased attention given to female soldiers since October 7 as delayed recognition rather than a turning point.
“Statistics for women in combat have been going up year after year,” she said. “October 7 just put a spotlight on what that actually means.”
Shani, who also asked not to be identified, said her own path into combat was circumstantial. Originally, she had planned to join intelligence; but when that didn’t work out, she chose a combat unit instead.
“I thought I might as well do something I’d never have the option to do otherwise,” she said. “It’s definitely not something I planned. But I didn’t feel there was anything different in our ability to serve.”
Shani said she believes that a center dedicated to the role of women in the military – especially following countless stories of bravery and valor – should be more all-encompassing and include a focus on other women who supported the war effort.
A national conversation
Such an emphasis seems logical as the number of women in combat roles continues to grow. Estimates suggest that women now make up 20% of infantry fighters, as well as a significantly higher share in other combat roles such as air defense, border defense, and combat intelligence.
However, that rise in numbers and visibility has also reignited public debate about women’s place in the military.
Against the backdrop of the increasing ultra-Orthodox draft, a popular conservative TV host argued just last month that the army “should be an event for men,” and that mixed-gender combat service “creates unnecessary tensions.”
IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin, whose daughter serves in a combat unit, responded: “The contribution of women in combat is not just a slogan or a moral statement; it is a solid operational fact. Anyone who chooses to doubt this ignores reality.”
On the ground, such debates carry far less weight. Many women serving in combat roles draw inspiration from past generations, deepening the responsibility of the Women of Valor Center.
As plans move forward to expand, the message is simple: Bravery has never belonged to one gender, one role, or one era. From the earliest days until today, women have stood on the frontlines and helped shape the story of our nation.
For Adele, hearing the stories of women who fell in 1948 shaped her and gave her strength.
“I hope people will remember that women today serve in many significant roles in the army and have always contributed enormously to the country’s security,” she said. “For me, the question of whether women should serve in combat roles shouldn’t even be a question.”■
The real names of the soldiers are not revealed, to protect their identities.