NEW YORK, Oct. 17 –
1,200 leading business people
and philanthropists from across
the country saluted Israel’s
brave soldiers and veterans at
the Friends of the Israel
Defense Forces (FIDF) National
N.Y. Gala Dinner on Oct. 17 at
the New York Hilton Midtown,
which raised more than $32
million to support well-being
and educational programs for
Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
soldiers.
Distinguished
guests included Permanent
Representative of Israel to the
United Nations Amb. Danny
Danon ;
Consul General of Israel in New
York Dani
Dayan ;
Israel Defense and Armed Forces
Attache to the United States
Maj. Gen. Michael
Edelstein ;
FIDF Acting Chairman Peter
Weintraub ;
FIDF Chairman Emeritus Arthur
Stark ;
FIDF Acting President Robert
Cohen ;
FIDF National Director and CEO
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir
Klifi-Amir and
his wife, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Gila
Klifi-Amir ;
radio personality and voice over
artist Valerie
Smaldone ,
who presided as master of
ceremonies; and FIDF Tri-State
Executive Director Galit
Brichta .
IDF Chief of the
General Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi
Eisenkot was
expected in attendance as well,
but due to an early-morning
rocket attack on Beer Sheva on
Wednesday, he immediately
returned to Israel.
Renowned Israeli
singer and former “X Factor
Israel” television personality Shiri
Maimon ,
who recently starred as Roxie in
“Chicago” on Broadway, performed
together with soldiers of the
IDF Musical Ensemble, as well as
with two of her own songs.
Highlighting the
unique cooperation between the
United States and Israel, Brig.
Gen. Tal
Kelman ,
Head of the Strategic Division
of the IDF Planning Directorate
and former Chief of Staff in the
Israeli Air Force (IAF),
discussed working together with
U.S. Air Force soldiers during
the Juniper Cobra joint military
exercise earlier this year. He
was joined on stage by Cpt. Or ,
the first female soldier to
command a Patriot Battery, who
recently employed an advanced
air defense system to shoot down
the Syrian airplane and drone
that invaded Israeli airspace
this past July.
Honored guests
also included 30 IDF soldiers
and officers from several
military units, including Staff
Sgt. Bar ,
a paramedic who treats wounded
Syrian civilians along the
border with Israel as part of
the IDF’s “Operation Good
Neighbor”; and Maj. Or
Ben-Yehuda ,
who served in the Caracal
Battalion, one of the only co-ed
military units in the world, and
her mother, Prof. Dina
Ben-Yehuda ,
who shared their story of
heroism passing on from
generation to generation. Dina
served in the IDF during the
1973 Yom Kippur War, and Or in
2014 single-handedly fought off
a group of terrorists and was
awarded for her courageous
actions. IDF combat veterans who
are now FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship
recipients were also in
attendance.
“Since its birth
70 years ago, Israel has
continuously fought for its
right to live as a free country
in the Middle East. A true
‘Start-up Nation,’ Israel not
only survives but thrives, with
accomplishments and innovations
that greatly contribute not only
to her own citizens, but also to
the rest of the world,” said
Klifi-Amir. “The success of the
state of Israel is rooted in
many factors, most importantly
resting on two pillars; a strong
IDF – one of the best militaries
in the world, with the highest
moral and ethics, and the strong
bond between Israel and the
great United States of America.
Standing together is the most
powerful way to continue to
thrive, flourish, and face the
challenges yet to come. We were
honored to have so many highly
distinguished guests join us at
this momentous annual gala, as
we celebrated 70 years of Israel
and saluted the heroes of the
IDF.”
For the fourth
year, FIDF’s flagship national
event was chaired by Weintraub.
A Reform rabbi and businessman
from Westchester, Weintraub has
been an avid FIDF supporter for
over 17 years and has sponsored
academic scholarships for more
than 85 IDF combat veterans
through FIDF’s IMPACT!
Scholarship Program.
“The miracle
called Israel has continued to
exist as a strong and thriving
country over the past 70 years,
and it will continue to exist
thanks to the heroic soldiers of
the IDF, who put their lives on
the line every day to defend the
home of the Jewish nation. I am
proud to chair this
extraordinary event and salute
Israel’s soldiers for their
countless sacrifices, historic
victories, and commitment to our
people,” said Weintraub.
Notable among the
donations was a $5 million
Planned Giving gift. Or Lachayal
pledged $2.5 million, FIDF
National Vice President Marc
Perlman pledged
$1.6 million, Nefesh B’Nefesh
pledged $1.3 million, FIDF Young
Leadership New York pledged $1.2
million, FIDF National Board
Member and NY Real Estate
Division Chairman Emeritus Ofer
Yardeni pledged
$1 million on behalf of FIDF NY
Real Estate, Brothers for Life
pledged $1 million, Genesis
Philanthropy Group pledged
$700,000, and the Iranian
American Jewish Federation
pledged $550,000. Weintraub’s
granddaughter pledged $180 for
each of his 14 grandchildren.
Funds raised at
the gala will provide
much-needed and well-deserved
services such as academic
scholarships to combat veterans,
financial assistance for
soldiers in-need, support for
Lone Soldiers throughout their
service and upon release,
crucial aid for wounded veterans
and the families of fallen
soldiers, weeks of rest and
recuperation for entire IDF
units, as well as educational,
cultural, and recreational
facilities. The evening
presented a rare and exclusive
opportunity to pay tribute to
the state of Israel and its
brave men and women in uniform.