When the sirens sounded across Israel on October 7th, 2023, Marlene Kolangi found herself locked in a safe room with her daughter and 130 terrified seminary girls. In that moment of chaos, fear, and uncertainty, a deeper realization took root within her heart: if these girls, safe and shielded, were so frightened, what about the children who had just lost their entire world? Who was holding them? Who was tucking them into bed? Who was whispering to them that somehow, tomorrow would be better?
In an emotional and inspiring conversation with South Florida Community Magazine, Marlene Kolangi recounts how she transformed personal anguish into a powerful force for rebuilding Am Yisrael’s future.
Marlene’s story begins long before October 7th. As a founder of Kaituz, a renowned bridal and evening wear design house, her days were once filled with the joyful chaos of weddings — designing stunning gowns, coordinating glamorous events, and helping dreams come true. But after that dark day, everything changed. “I knew we couldn’t just sit and mourn,” Marlene says. “We had to act.”
While trapped with her daughter and the seminary girls, Marlene’s thoughts raced to the orphans — children who had no one left. As a single mother herself, the image of a child alone gnawed at her. Within days, she began calling every organization she could find. Who was helping the children who lost both parents? The answer came back over and over: no one. The country was overwhelmed. Systems were collapsing under the sheer weight of the tragedy.
“That’s when I realized,” Marlene says, “if no one else was going to step up for these children, I would.”
What followed was months of work with no blueprint. There was no government list to consult, no military database to rely on. Marlene had to build everything herself, one call, one home visit, one broken family at a time. “I didn’t know there were 41 children who lost both parents. I didn’t know the ages, the backgrounds, anything. I had to find them, reach them, and gain their trust.”
Her first visits were heart-wrenching. An Orthodox Jew herself, Marlene entered homes of every background — deeply religious, completely secular, and everything in between. “I approached each family without judgment. Terrorists don’t ask who is frum and who is secular. They see one thing: a Jew. And that’s how I see every one of our people.”
Respect and dignity became the cornerstones of her approach. Unlike some organizations that arrived with cameras and public campaigns, Marlene came quietly, discreetly, with no agenda but to help. “Real charity means giving in a way where the person feels like they are doing you a favor by accepting,” she explains. “That’s the only kind of giving that matters.”
From those first heartbreaking visits grew “Israel Orphans of 10/7,” now the only organization solely dedicated to supporting these most vulnerable children. Every orphan connected to Marlene’s organization receives $500 to $750 a month to help cover basic living needs. But Marlene saw that financial aid, while critical, was not enough. “These children need to heal emotionally if they’re ever going to build a life,” she says.
Thus was born Israel’s first dedicated Play Therapy Center, where children heal through art, animals, music, ceramics, and even surfing. “Most of the children didn’t want traditional therapy,” Marlene notes. “Talking about what happened reopens their wounds. We needed to create a space where healing could happen naturally, on their terms.”
Marlene speaks movingly about the transformations she has witnessed. A nine-year-old girl who hadn’t spoken a word since witnessing her parents’ murder whispered “hi” after a gentle interaction during art therapy. Another child who had once been terrified of dogs now finds comfort and companionship with therapy animals. “It’s not instant,” Marlene says. “It’s slow. It’s patient. But it is miraculous.”
Every Friday, Marlene personally calls each family connected to her organization. She knows the children by name, their stories, their struggles. “It’s not a charity project,” she insists. “It’s family.”
The road, however, is not easy. With over 1,100 orphans created by the October 7th attacks, Marlene’s organization currently serves 144 children directly. “I wish we could help them all,” she says. “But our resources are limited. Every dollar matters.”
She sees a shift in the American Jewish community’s involvement. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, there was a wave of support. But as time passed, attention drifted elsewhere. “We live in an impulsive generation,” Marlene reflects. “People want immediate satisfaction. Buy a helmet. Sponsor a hotel stay. But real healing — rebuilding children’s lives — that’s long, slow, unseen work.”
Marlene wishes more people understood that charity is not about satisfying the giver’s emotional needs. “It’s about truly seeing the person in front of you. Respecting their dignity. Giving without expecting anything in return.”
Her organization operates with complete transparency and sensitivity. No publicizing the names of children. No staged photos. Every penny raised is hand-delivered directly to families.
Despite the enormous challenges, Marlene’s faith never wavers. “Every child we help is a brick in the future of Am Yisrael. Our grandparents rebuilt after the Holocaust. We owe it to these children to rebuild now.”
Israel Orphans of 10/7 is expanding, opening two more Play Therapy Centers and preparing to serve even more devastated communities. But the need is massive, and the mission is urgent.
“The war isn’t over. The pain isn’t over. Every Jew has a job now,” Marlene says, her voice steady with determination. “We are fighting for the next generation. We have to give them the tools — financial, emotional, spiritual — to build a strong, proud, resilient Jewish future.”
In a world of shifting headlines and short attention spans, Marlene Lange’s work stands as a powerful reminder: the true victory of Am Yisrael is not won on battlefields alone. It is won in the healing of a child, the rebuilding of a home, the quiet restoration of hope.
To learn more about Israel Orphans of Ten Seven and support their sacred work, visit www.israelorphans10-7.org.
