28 | JANUARY 19 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

F

riends of the Israel Defense Forces 
(FIDF) hosted its seventh Annual 
Israel Bike Mission — an intensive 
six-day bicycle ride through Israel 
— from Nov. 11-17, 2022. Southfield 
residents Howard and Michal Korman 
and Alon Tolwin joined FIDF supporters 
for this cross-country ride. 
 A group of wounded Israeli combat 
veterans who have benefited from 
rehabilitative programs and prosthetic 
devices sponsored by FIDF rode with 
them. The ride routes were designed by 
Roy Goldstein, two-time Israel cycling 
champion.
Beginning in the southernmost city 
of Eilat, the riders headed north, cycling 
along the Egyptian border where they 
stopped for a special base visit with the 
Faran Brigade, a unit responsible for 
securing Israel’s southern border with 
Egypt. Participants met with the soldiers 
guarding the border and had the rare 
opportunity to ride down “Road 10,” an 
army thoroughfare not usually open to 

civilians. They also visited the Magav 
instructional base in Beit Horon (a base 
for border police) where they met with 
deputy commanders who introduced 
them to the unit’s special equipment 
and shared challenges they face.
Among the riders was Shlomo 
Nimrodi, a former platoon commander 
in the elite Shaldag Unit in 1978, who 
lost his leg following an IED explosion. 
Another participant was Itzhik Gabbay, 
an esteemed IDF wounded veteran who 
served in the IDF for 25 years. Itzhik was 
the former commander of a combat unit. 
He lost his leg in a combat-related injury. 
Both Shlomo and Itzhik received 
their sports prosthetic thanks to FIDF’s 
Wounded Soldiers Program, which helps 
disabled and newly injured Israeli combat 
soldiers reclaim their lives following a 
severe combat-related wound, injury or 
trauma. Culminating in Jerusalem, the 
exhilarating ride allowed the participants, 
all of whom are avid cyclists, to show 
solidarity with and support for Israel’s 

soldiers while learning about the 
historical and geographical background 
of the country and its borders. Activities 
for non-cyclists who participated in the 
trip were available as well.
“We were thrilled to have hosted our 
seventh FIDF Annual Ride in Israel. 
Biking across the country with wounded 
veterans helped participants truly 
experience the land and the impact FIDF 
makes on the brave men and women who 
benefit from our programs,” said Tamir 
Oppenheim, VP, FIDF Central Region. 
“This experience provided an incredible 
opportunity for FIDF supporters to 
explore Israel in a unique and challenging 
way.” 

The 2023 FIDF Israel Ride Mission will take place 

Nov. 10-16. For information, contact Sarit Elran, 

sarit.elran@fidf.org.

American FIDF supporters 
join wounded IDF 
combat veterans on the 
Israel Bike Mission.

Cycling Across Israel

PHOTOS BY GILAD KAVALERCHIK

FIDF

On the first day, 
cyclists ride in the 
mountains of Eilat.

Howard 
Korman 

