
When the war broke out in Israel on October 7, 2023, the entire nation helplessly witnessed the worst massacres since the Holocaust. Children, exposed to the sadness of those around them, felt the terror and fear in their own way, sometimes without fully understanding it. To restore their confidence and a sense of security, Yarden Stefansky, originally from Herzliya and a reserve soldier in the army, completed a project he had been thinking about for several years: creating figurines depicting the soldiers of the IDF. These realistic-looking dolls, called "Heroes of Israel," represent a wide range of Israeli security forces: border police, female soldiers, Druze, Ethiopians, and even a soldier in a wheelchair—no one is forgotten. The key word: authenticity, to show that superheroes are part of our society and play a crucial role.
"We wanted to highlight the diversity of the Israeli army. I think we’re the only ones in the world to have created a Druze figurine," proudly states Yarden Stefansky, co-founder of Israeli Heroes, in an interview with Itonnews.

Yarden lives in Herzliya with his wife and children. He works in marketing and served as a reservist during the war. In the weeks following October 7, Yarden began working on hasbara (public diplomacy) to explain to the world what was happening in Israel and who the IDF was fighting against, particularly on social media where the communication battle was especially fierce. He focused on enhancing Israel’s image and highlighting the positive sides of his country in the face of a flood of unwarranted hate.
"We went through a real tragedy. October 7 arrived, and the world stopped, life froze, taking with it joy, optimism, and of course the figurine project I had conceptualized. I found myself, like most people in the country, in shock, with a feeling of apprehension and loss of faith. Our children saw us crying in front of the TV, saw us anxiously waiting for the news every morning, and quickly understood that something terrible had happened. Children feel everything. And the impact was immediate. The kids were afraid to sleep alone, terrified of every little noise, and didn’t want to go to kindergarten. Anxiety attacks and crying became part of everyday life," Yarden said.
Before the war, his son had asked him if heroes really existed. When the fighting started, with soldiers heading to Gaza, this question took on a whole new meaning, and Yarden realized that he had to complete his IDF figurine project now more than ever.

"I quickly realized that the soldiers were actually the real heroes. The ones who will defend us and bring the hostages back, and my son's question came back to me like a boomerang. It was an epiphany, and I immediately got to work with my team, including my brother Elad, to create the dolls. Children need to hold on to reassuring figures that they can idealize, and it’s even better if they are Israeli," he explains.
Israeli superheroes
Yarden created a world and stories around the figurines so that children could identify with these heroes and experience the war more easily, feeling that someone is always protecting them wherever they go. Each figurine has a name and also carries its own message, such as "a real hero listens to his mom."
"We wanted the children to be able to play with the figurines as well, so we added all sorts of accessories like helmets, weapons, and toys. They are high quality and very safe because children deserve heroes worthy of the name," says Yarden.
Children, as well as figurine collectors, have shown great interest in the project, along with the most Zionist among us, who are thrilled to have Israeli heroes in their homes and who have embraced the vision of the army that Israeli Heroes offers. "We will develop models in the image of the fallen soldiers, in their memory," says Yarden.

"There are many children of reservists who have bought the figurines because it gives them strength and courage to cope with the absence of their parents deployed at the front. Some call their figurine 'dad' and sleep with it or take it to kindergarten, feeling protected. It’s very moving," explains Yarden.
Strong symbols to restore Israel's image
The figurines represent soldiers who protect and defend the homeland, not attack, staying true to the primary mission of the IDF, which is the defense of the state.

Yarden also organizes activities in kindergartens around the figurines, with workshops and games during which he tells the story of how the figurines came to be. "When the sirens went off, the children would exclaim, 'It’s great, we have our figurines to protect us.' It’s important because the reality right now is really not easy," says Yarden.
"We really want to improve the image of Israel and the IDF in the eyes of the world. It’s time for the Heroes of Israel to be part of the country’s culture. We are surrounded by enemies who want to eliminate us, and we’re lucky to have our soldiers fighting against that, and now is the time to highlight them. We need to exert our power and influence on social media and in cultural fronts with positive actions. Our Israeli heroes are just as worthy as Captain America and other fictional heroes!" Yarden concluded.
The figurines are available on the website and are shipped worldwide. A portion of the profits is donated to organizations supporting reservists.
The Israeli Heroes website: https://israeliheroes.com/
Caroline Haïat
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