AROUND TOWN

Staff photos by Angie Baan

Shari Kaufman with her children, Josh, 13, and Laurenne, 12, of West
Bloomfield

David and Kelly Victor of Bloomfield Hills and Dona and Alan Stillman of Birmingham

All For Israel

Emotional gala honors Israeli soldiers.

I

srael's heroes come in all shapes and sizes: the young soldier who nearly died
fighting in the 2006 war against Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, the military doc-
tor whose medical skills saved a life on the battlefield, the commander who led
his troops to victory, the beloved brother and son on the front lines who never made it
home.
All of them were represented Nov. 8 at an emotional gala to support the Friends of the
Israel Defense Forces. About 700 FIDF supporters attended the strolling dinner and pro-
gram at Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield. At least $500,000 was raised for Israel's
soldiers.
"We're really blessed to have the community's continued sup-
port year after year:' said Tamir Oppenheim of West Bloomfield,
executive director of the Walled Lake-based FIDF Michigan
chapter.
The evening's guest speakers included Brigadier General
(Res.) Avigdor Kahalani, a decorated career IDF officer who
is chairman of the Aguda LeMa'an Hachayal (the Association
for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers) and Major General Benny
Ganz, commander of the IDF Army Headquarters. Lieutenants
Omri Shahar and Dr. Nir Sorkin, who fought in the 2006 war
against terrorists in Lebanon, also shared their moving story.
Shahar was seriously injured by a missile and Sorkin saved his
life.
"Despite everything, I wouldn't have missed serving in the army for anything," said
Shahar, who endured months of recovery and rehabilitation.
There was hardly a dry eye in the room when IDF soldier Tal Szajnbrum, 22, stepped
up to the podium to pay special tribute to his older brother, Yaniv, who died fighting in
Lebanon.
"Every night before I fall asleep, I close my eyes and think what life would be if Yaniv
had not died;' Szajnbrum said. "And then I cry."
"These are real-life stories. Regrettably, this is life in Israel," said Brenda Wayne
Berris of West Bloomfield, who spoke through her tears.
"Our mission tonight is to ensure that these brave soldiers who sacrifice everything
for our safety are taken care of." H

Tamir Oppenheim
of West Bloomfield,
Brigadier General
(Res.) Avigdor Kahalani
and Robert Aronson of
Bloomfield Hills

Steve Cicurel, Billy
Berris and Rick Kovacs,
all of West Bloomfield

November 22 2007

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