The 5 Women Who Transformed the IDF

Many courageous women have defied societal norms and etched their names into the history of Israel and its defense forces (IDF). 

They include women like Sarah Aaronsohn, an early Zionist spy who fought fiercely against Ottoman rule, and Devorah Drechler, whose fight for equal roles for women in early defense efforts paved the way for Miriam Shachor and Alice Miller who reshaped women's participation in combat.

Thanks to the inspiring acts of resilience and determination of these trailblazers, women have the power and ability to continue shaping the IDF today.

Note: This video was created before the events surrounding Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi (7:58 in the video) and the Sde Teiman incident in 2024-2025. The video does not reflect these developments.

Big Ideas

• Female fighters have helped shape Israel’s military history since before the modern state’s existence.  
• Israel’s brave female fighters don’t often get recognized in history classes for their contributions.
• Israel’s position towards women in combat has evolved over time.

Essential Questions

• What roles should women have in the military?
• How have women had an impact within Israel’s armed forces?
• How have women been involved in military endeavors throughout history?