38 | OCTOBER 27 • 2022 

faces&places

 PHOTOGRAPHY BY 
RON LIEBERMAN, LIEBERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

A

t a time when antisemitism is 
rampant and support for Israel 
and the IDF is challenged, 
Friends of the IDF (FIDF), an orga-
nization dedicated to the wellbeing of 
the soldiers of Israel, brought together 
members of the Michigan community 
in a strong show of solidarity for the 
brave young men and women of the 
Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Nearly 700 
local FIDF supporters gathered on Sept. 
21 for the Michigan Chapter’s Annual 
Dinner to honor Miriam and Fred 
Ferber and Israel’s courageous soldiers.
The event began with a powerful 
video presentation featuring intense 
moments of IDF soldiers in action fol-
lowed by welcome remarks from two 
of the Ferber’s grandsons, Jonathan 
Kaufman and Sam Ferber, who shared 
this message, “While some may think 
of courage as an aspiration, Israel’s 
soldiers have no choice but to be cou-
rageous. For them, courage is manda-
tory.” 
Emceeing the event was 13-time 
Emmy award winner Robin Schwartz.
The FIDF Michigan Chapter’s 25th 
anniversary was highlighted in a video 
shown that evening. Schwartz shared a 
special message about Ann Newman, 
z”l, one of the founding members who 
served in Israel’s paramilitary under-
ground organization and remained a 
lifelong Zionist and champion of many 
Jewish causes.
Guests also heard from Major Bar, 
who joined the Israeli Air Force to fol-
low in the footsteps of his late father, 
a crew chief in the Israeli Air Force 
whose helicopter was shot down during 
the Second Lebanon War. Maj. Bar 
plays a critical role in ensuring all com-
mand-and-control systems are accessi-

ble to soldiers from air, land and sea.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny 
Gantz and former Prime Minister Ehud 
Olmert shared meaningful video trib-
utes in celebration of the honorees. 
Benny Gantz said, “Miriam and Fred 
represent the history of our people, sur-
vivors of the Holocaust and immigrants 
in a new country who rebuilt their 
lives. Thank you for your contribution 
to the security and prosperity of the 
State of Israel and the Jewish people.”
Mickey Shapiro presented the award 
to the Ferbers along with Michigan 
FIDF Chairman Alon Kaufman and 
President Gary Shiffman. 
Both Miriam and Fred shared that 
during the Holocaust they had no 
home or country to go to, but when 
Israel was created in 1948, they finally 
had a home: Israel. 
“If there would have been an IDF 
in 1939, the horror of what they went 
through would never have been the 
same,” Fred said. 
They thanked the IDF soldiers who 
defend Israel with so much courage, 
jeopardizing their lives every day.
Lastly, Shari Kaufman, vice president 
of the Michigan Chapter, spoke to the 
crowd about the night’s honorees. “I’m 
so proud of my parents, Miriam and 
Fred Ferber, for their extraordinary 
leadership and passionate commitment 
to ensuring a better future for the brave 
men and women of the Israel Defense 
Forces, the State of Israel and the entire 
Jewish community.” 
Kaufman added, “Without a strong 
IDF, there is no Israel and there is no 
organization better equipped to meet 
the social, educational and wellbeing 
needs of the soldiers who protect Israel 
and Jews worldwide than FIDF.” 

FIDF Michigan Chapter 
Supporters Honor IDF 
Soldiers and Israel 

TOP TO BOTTOM: Gary Shiffman, President FIDF 
MI Chapter, Dinner Co-Chair Lisa Shiffman, VP 
FIDF MI Chapter Shari Kaufman; Chairman FIDF 
MI Chapter Alon Kaufman. The Ferber/Kaufman 
Family. Lynda Giles, Dr. Conrad Giles and Diane 
Klein. Paula Lebowitz, Fred Ferber, Miriam Ferber, 
VP FIDF Central Region Tamir Oppenheim. FIDF 
CEO Steve Weil, Dinner Co-Chair Mickey Shapiro 
and Tamir Oppenheim.

