Jewish Voice Endorsements for Nov 7th Election Read More on Page 5 October 27, 2017 | 7 Cheshvan 5778
Vol. 14, Iss. 42
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FIDF Gala at Hilton Raises $35M – Celebrates “A Night of Heroes” Honoring Brave Soldiers & Vets
U.S. and Israeli soldiers at the Oct. 23rd Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) New York Gala Dinner. (Photo credit: Shahar Azran)
By: Lieba Nesis
T
he Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) held its annual dinner on Monday, October 23, 2017 at the Hilton hotel with the reception beginning at 5:30 PM. Last year's March dinner was cancelled due to an impending snowstorm and rescheduled this evening with a sold-out 1,200 person crowd. Normally, this elegant dinner is held at the preferred venue of the Waldorf Astoria which is unfortunately under construction. This gala is one of the major annual fundraising events of the IDF. The IDF was created in 1981, fulfill ing David Ben-Gurion's vision of an
American pillar of support for Israel's soldiers with more than 15 branches in the United States and Panama. In 2016, the organization gave: 4,025 impact scholarships to combat veterans; educational support to 5,000 soldiers post-service; necessities such as furniture and food vouchers to more than 8,000 soldiers in-need; supported 710 wounded veterans; and adopted 8 brigades supporting 30,000 soldiers. This evening was "A Night of Heroes" and saluted the brave soldiers and veterans from all of Israel's military operations and historic wars. Th night began with a moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and Hatikvah by Cantor Naftali Hershtik. This year, there was a more optimistic
tone to the dinner as President Trump continues to prove he is a great friend of Israel with a video shown depicting the unprecedented military cooperation between the United States and Israel. Peter Weintraub, the FIDF National President, thanked Miriam and Sheldon Adelson for pledging $10 million last year but actually donating $16 million-the largest gift in IDF history. Th y were given a special plaque for adopting numerous army brigades with the inscription "it is not what one says but what one does" that counts and they are incredible Jewish activists. Sheldon and Miriam were seated in the middle of a large central table in the ballroom and were the toast of
the evening with hundreds of people requesting selfies and congratulating them on their generosity. This dynamic duo's support of Birthright has given hundreds of thousands of Jewish students the opportunity to sample the beauty of Israel. Tonight was all about Israel, with more than 25 IDF soldiers and offic s from several military units and the IDF orchestra attending. The emcee of the evening was Fox business news anchor Liz Claman and her enthusiasm and professionalism was readily apparent. A special commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Six-Day War was led by legendary Air Force Pilot Danny Shapira. The 92-year-old Shapira recounted his participation
in the Six-Day-War where he and his compatriots, without suffici t arms, were surrounded by 100 milllion Arabs knowing they would be killed if they surrendered. He later told me he had fl wn in six wars and during the six-day war, he fl w on two bombing missions a day performing all the test flying of the aircrafts. On the sixth day of the war the Israeli army gave him a reprieve to attend his son's Bar Mitzvah. Shapira spoke proudly of Israel's preeminence in high technology and
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