Community leaders honored in inaugural Women of Iron awards

Eighteen women celebrated at event that also was tribute to late photographer Laura Ben-David

By Jessica Steinberg

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4 January 2026, 5:18 pm

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Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Eighteen Israeli women were recently honored in the inaugural Women of Iron Awards, an event marking their accomplishments as well as the life and works of Jerusalem-based photographer Laura Ben David, who died of ovarian cancer in July.

Former hostage Arbel Yehoud, bereaved hostage mother Iris Haim, and paramedic Gitty Beer were among the awardees in the event created by Chochmat Nashim, an Israeli organization that promotes women’s rights in the Orthodox Jewish community in Israel and the US.

“These women represent hundreds more who have filled us with awe as they rose to heights of courage, strength, and leadership through the crisis of the last two years,” said Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll, founder of Chochmat Nashim and a frequent Times of Israel blogger.

Keats-Jaskoll said the evening revolved around naming some of those people “whose strength is both quiet and fierce.”

The other honorees were a mix of activists, active duty commanders, community leaders, and bereaved wives and mothers: Ashager Araro, Michal Barkai Brody, Shifra Buchris, Laly Derai, Zahava Diener, Cochav Elkayam-Levy, Senai Guedalia, Sharon Laufer, Shirel Liberman, Shari Mendes, Sivan Mashiach, Bazy Rubin, Emily Schrader, Dr. Tamar Shlezinger and Sarit Zussman.

The event was also created as a tribute to Ben David, an Israeli-American photographer who played a pivotal role in the creation and growth of the Jewish Photo Bank, which provides stock photos of daily life with Jewish themes and content for media and personal use.

Behind the scenes at a Jewish Life Photo Bank photo shoot. (Laura Ben David)

The Jewish Photo Bank is meant to be an international and online exhibit, with its images and videos available to schools and Jewish community centers as educational and advocacy tools.

Ben David was also among the first Times of Israel bloggers and remained a contributor until March of this year.

A police officer stands between a group of ultra-Orthodox youths and a bar mitzvah ceremony at the egalitarian section of the Western Wall on June 30, 2022. (Laura Ben-David)

“Laura used photography to tell the story of the Jewish people, and women’s faces and voices are a major part of that – both in countering the erasure we face in Orthodox spaces and fighting antisemitism around the world,” said Keats Jaskoll in her remarks.

“Together, we worked on projects to center Jewish women. After October 7, when ignoring women’s testimony was a major part of the tragedy that befell us, our commitment strengthened. Even as Laura fought her own health battle, we watched as these women rescued, inspired, and defended our nation, and they inspired her. The exhibit will carry their voices – and Laura’s legacy.”