Cheryl Mandel

For Cheryl Mandel, everything changed in 2003, when her son, Lt. Daniel Mandel, was killed during a military operation in Nablus.

In the moments and days that followed, life didn’t come with instructions.
There isn’t a clear path for what comes next after something like that. You just take it one step at a time.

At some point along the way, Cheryl found her way to OneFamily. At her first event, she met co-founder Chantal Belzberg, a moment that stayed with her. She remembers standing there, telling her story, not really knowing what to expect.

“I told Chantal my story and she started to cry. I couldn’t believe that someone who hears these stories every day could still care so deeply. That’s when I understood this was something different.”

At first, Cheryl mostly listened.
She showed up quietly, sitting in a room with other mothers, being around people who didn’t need explanations. There were yoga classes, conversations, and moments of just being together.

“I met other bereaved mothers who were slowly rebuilding. Over time, I found that I could do the same.”

And slowly, something started to shift.

Cheryl didn’t just come to receive support. She became part of it.

She began traveling abroad with OneFamily, speaking on Israel’s Memorial Day and Independence Day, days that carry a unique weight for families like hers. While many people feel a deep pull to come home to Israel on Yom HaZikaron, for Cheryl, being there is incredibly difficult. The intensity of the day, so present in every corner, can feel overwhelming.

Instead, she chose a different kind of mission.

As a native English speaker, Cheryl began sharing Daniel’s story around the world, bringing the meaning of Yom HaZikaron beyond Israel’s borders. Over the years, she has traveled across the world, from South Africa to Canada, the United States, and even Hong Kong, carrying Daniel’s story with her, and speaking to communities who may be far away, but deeply connected.

“When I speak abroad, I’m not just sharing Daniel’s memory. I’m giving voice to 25,000 bereaved mothers who can’t travel or speak for themselves. I consider it a privilege.”

Back at home, her role was often quieter. She taught art and dance at OneFamily programs, creating small moments of light, creativity, and connection.

“OneFamily has helped members of my family each in their own way. I would do anything for them as a way to express my gratitude.”

Over the years, Cheryl began to notice something else, that many of the people who supported her were also carrying their own loss.

“Some of the people who supported me were also bereaved parents. They found a way to give back. I followed their example.”

Because sometimes, just being in the same room with someone who understands changes everything.

Today, more than two decades later, Cheryl’s story isn’t about “moving on.”

It’s about choosing to keep going.
Showing up. Being there for others.

And, over time, becoming the kind of person she once needed beside her.