"Here I remember everything and forget everything at the same time"

A medical clowning course for mothers of wounded IDF soldiers, initiated by the "Lioness Mother" association, offers emotional support and humor. The participants, coping with their sons' injuries, find solace in the group, learn a profession of giving, and share their pain and hopes.

The "Lioness Mother" association initiated a medical clowning course for mothers of wounded IDF soldiers, aiming to provide them with emotional support, professional tools, and a space for laughter and relief. The second of 12 meetings takes place at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, and the mothers, both secular and religious from across the country, share their personal stories. Limor Yitzhak, the course instructor, distributes red noses and guides the mothers to introduce themselves. Rachel, whose son was wounded in Gaza about two years ago, speaks about the difficulty of seeing his suffering and the unique support in the group, where everyone understands each other without words. Adi explains that she needs laughter after a long period of containment. Yael, whose son was seriously wounded, talks about choosing gratitude for the miracle and learning proportions. Odalia is sure she will engage in medical clowning in the future and speaks about the power of the group, where one sigh is the sigh of all. Michal Asban, the founder of the association, whose son Yotam suffered a severe head injury in May 2024, recounts the difficult moments and the feeling of abandonment by the state. She established the association to empower mothers, who she says become invisible when their sons are injured. The meeting ends with a sense of belonging, connection, and hope, as the mothers testify that they have learned to open up, share, and allow themselves to enjoy the respite and laughter.