Australian mother featured in first app tailored for Jewish women
Brisbane mum Ilana Mendels was selected as one of the dozens of Jewish women from around the world to share their story on Yomm, a website and complimentary app launched by the Momentum organization.
Ilana Mendels and her daughter Ariella
This week, Momentum, a global movement for Jewish mothers, launched its first mobile app and complimentary website exclusively tailored for Jewish women in an effort to create the world’s largest social network for the demographic.
Yomm — which translates to “day” in Hebrew — offers Jewish women worldwide a daily chance to reflect, learn, and “check in” individually with other Jewish women around the world.
In interactive journeys, women immerse themselves in high-value, original videos, audio, and readings from thought leaders like actor and activist Noa Tishby, Jewish educator Zohar Raviv, and psychologist and best-selling author Kelly McGonigal. Women can dive into topics that speak to them, including wellbeing, spiritual growth, Israel, and taking action.
In her video, Australian mother Mendels, 41, reflects upon how she approaches parenting on a daily basis.
A screenshot of the Yomm app. (Momentum)
“I want to end each day feeling like I’ve done my best on that day and that I have given my daughter inspiration to become the best version of herself one day, whatever that looks like, even if it’s completely different than me,” says Mendels, a single mother.
By providing women with interactive journeys that touch on the communal, spiritual and social, the app encourages Jewish women and particularly mothers to “switch off the busyness of the outside world.” The “journeys” or tracks are centered around personal discovery and learning; connecting with a global community of Jewish sisterhood; exploring Jewish wisdom and traditions; and cultivating a sense of gratitude and meaning throughout one’s day. Women can embark on each journey solo or with others, directly messaging each other to share their takeaways and learnings and embark on this journey with others or on their own. In Yomm’s innovative Soul Full feature, users are invited to discover new facets of blessings where they can curate their own personalized prayer collection and open the door to meaning, inspiration, and spiritual growth.
The App was created by Momentum, in partnership with the Mayberg Foundation, the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Debra and David Magerman, and Momentum Canada.
By working in tandem, Momentum’s app and website enable women from around the world to dive into inspiring Jewish learning, spark real conversations and genuine connections, and ultimately bridge the distance between each other.
“The magic of the Momentum journey where Jewish women from all over the world meet in Israel to uncover something deeper about themselves and their heritage is now finally available on your phone,” said Lori Palatnik, Momentum’s Founding Director. “Whether a woman has already embarked on our in-person experience or is only just getting acquainted with us, Yomm provides them with the ability to continue to grow in their individual, spiritual and communal journey while virtually connecting to other Jewish women around the globe.”
The app is being released at a time when the need for connection and community is at an all-time high. Jewish people around the world have emerged from a global pandemic only to witness a disturbing rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. Yomm provides Jewish women around the world with a way to come together. Though their languages and traditions may differ, Yomm shows that all Jewish women are connected by a common thread — and, as the organization’s tagline shares, “We’re never lost when we can find each other.”
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs handpicked Momentum to establish Yomm, understanding that Momentum’s substantial reach and network of more than 20,000 diverse Jewish women from 34 countries makes the organization the ideal partner for cultivating the global Jewish sisterhood. With its undisputed expertise in profound, Jewish learning experiences, Momentum is uniquely situated to expand into the digital space.
A screenshot of the Yomm website interface. (Momentum)
The Yomm App is available at the Google Play and App Store and the Yomm Website.
