Hundreds Celebrate Israeli Soldiers with FIDF in San Francisco

More than 450 members of the San Francisco Bay Area community gathered for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) San Francisco Gala Dinner and Silicon Valley Gala Dinner, on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, respectively, raising more than $2 million to support the brave men and women of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The galas celebrated 70 years of Israeli heroes and hope, and featured speeches from active-duty and former IDF soldiers, including Sgt. Eden .

Sgt. Eden lost her brother during the Second Lebanon War, and was an FIDF LEGACY camper in 2009 before later becoming a counselor for the same program. FIDF’s LEGACY camp brings Israeli teens – all of whom have lost a family member who was serving in Israel’s military – to the United States to experience summer camp with their American peers. Sgt. Eden now serves as an instructor in a special IDF elite unit, the same unit her brother was in.

FIDF supporters also honored Capt. Or, and her mother, Prof. Dina Ben Yehuda , as they told their multigenerational story of heroism. In 2014, Maj. Or, a company commander at the time who served in the Caracal Battalion, one of the only co-ed military units in the world, was ambushed by almost two dozen terrorists and despite being injured, managed to provide aid to her wounded driver, and return fire, holding them off and then joining the assault when backup arrived. She was awarded the highest honor, Medal of Valor, for these actions, while her mother, Dina, received the same award for her coordination of treating the injured from the Armored Corps during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Also speaking during the events was Mendy , who grew up in an Orthodox family that disowned him when he enlisted in the IDF and served in the Givati Brigade. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, he was responsible for contacting the families of fallen soldiers and returning personal items to those families. Mendy is now a recipient of the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which grants four-year academic scholarships to combat and combat support soldiers from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds. Mendy’s education is sponsored by Todd and Carol Maibach , from Menlo Park, California, and during the galas the Maibachs reunited with Mendy.

“The FIDF galas in San Francisco and Silicon Valley were opportunities for our local Jewish and non-Jewish supporters to hear firsthand from brave IDF female and male soldiers who directly benefit from FIDF’s programs,” said FIDF San Francisco Chairman Ofer Zur . “Our guests had the chance to shake the hands or even better give a big hug and personally thank the brave soldiers who risk everything to defend Israel – and Jews worldwide.”

Jim Weider emceed both dinners, and other distinguished guests in attendance were CEO of Oracle Corporation Safra Catz ; businessman and philanthropist Tad Taube ; CEO of Ring Central Vlad Shmunis; former Yahoo CFO Ken Goldman; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir ; and FIDF San Francisco Executive Director Jonathan Bernstein.

Helena Foster of Oakland was among the Holocaust survivors who attended the galas and witnessed the moving, emotional program. Foster escaped the Nazi regime and later joined the Israeli Air Force in 1949.

The over $2 million raised at these events, a significant increase compared to last year, will go toward FIDF well-being and educational programs for IDF soldiers.

About Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF):

FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission of offering educational, cultural, recreational, and social programs and facilities that provide hope, purpose, and life-changing support for the soldiers who protect Israel and Jews worldwide. Today, FIDF has more than 150,000 loyal supporters, and 20 chapters throughout the United States and Panama. FIDF proudly supports IDF soldiers, families of fallen soldiers, and wounded veterans through a variety of innovative programs that reinforce the vital bond between the communities in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the state of Israel. For more information, please visit: www.fidf.org.

See photos from the FIDF San Francisco Gala Dinner and FIDF Silicon Valley Gala Dinner, Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, respectively. Photo credits: Willis Lai, Project W Production

Photo #1: (from left) FIDF San Francisco Executive Director Jonathan Bernstein; FIDF San Francisco Board Chair Ofer Zur; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi- Amir; Candee Klein; and Jack Klein at the FIDF Silicon Valley Gala Dinner.
Photo #2: (from left) FIDF San Francisco Executive Director Jonathan Bernstein; FIDF San Francisco Board Chair Ofer Zur; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi- Amir; and Jim Weider, who emceed the galas; with Israeli soldiers.
Photo #3: (left) Medal of Valor recipient Capt. Or; and her mother, Prof. Dina Ben Yehuda, at the FIDF San Francisco Gala Dinner.
Photo #4: Members of the IDF musical ensemble perform during the FIDF San Francisco Gala Dinner on Oct. 20.
Photo #5: Israeli soldier Mendy presents his beret to Carol and Todd Maibach, of Menlo Park California, who sponsor Mendy’s education through the FIDF IMPACT scholarship program.