NOVEMBER 9 • 2023 | 23
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ore than 1,000 Friends of the IDF
(FIDF) supporters joined star of
Netflix’s Fauda, Yaakov Zada-
Daniel, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek on
Oct. 24 in a strong show of solidarity with
the hundreds of thousands of Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) soldiers on the frontlines who
are risking their lives to restore security in
Israel after the horrendous massacre that
occurred on Oct. 7 and the ongoing attacks
perpetrated by Hamas.
The event had been scheduled as the FIDF
Michigan 2023 Annual Dinner in celebration
of Israel’s 75 years of independence. However,
in the wake of the attacks, it was transformed
into a solidarity gathering where the Jewish
community could show support for Israel’s
soldiers during their greatest time of need. One
hundred percent of proceeds from the event,
and donations to FIDF since the start of the
war, are going toward the emergency humani-
tarian needs of IDF soldiers. So far, more than
$30 million has been transferred to the IDF to
meet their most urgent requests for its soldiers.
The event chairs were Joan Chernoff
Epstein and Bob Epstein, Shari Ferber
Kaufman and Alon Kaufman, and Lisa and
Gary Shiffman. VIP attendees included State
Sen. Jeremy Moss; State Reps. Samantha
Steckloff; Oakland Country Sheriff Michael
Bouchard; and West Bloomfield Treasurer
Teri Weingarden.
Additional VIP attendees included FIDF
Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil; FIDF
Central Region Vice President, Tamir
Oppenheim; and FIDF Michigan Chapter
Director Paula Lebowitz.
The event included words of solidarity
and hope from Fauda’s Yaakov Zada-Daniel
(who plays Eli), who was the recipient of
an FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship after his
IDF service, which covered the cost of his
university education.
Hazzan Daniel Gross and Michal
Korman, mother of a Lone Soldier cur-
rently serving on the frontlines, offered a
special prayer for Israel’s soldiers.
FIDF is the single organization in the
United States, designated by the IDF, that
is authorized to raise funds for its soldiers,
and FIDF acts according to the require-
ments of the IDF’s Manpower Directorate
to respond to the most urgent requests.
Funds raised at the event will go toward
lifesaving medical supplies such as ambu-
lances, plasma, medical devices, field hos-
pitals, as well as hygiene kits and aid for the
thousands of bereaved families who are suf-
fering the loss of a loved one. As the IDF’s
official partner, FIDF is the fastest and
most direct way to support IDF soldiers.
“The brutal, barbaric acts of hatred
committed against Israeli civilians are
unthinkable, and IDF soldiers are facing
an unprecedented and harrowing con-
flict, making our support for them more
vital than ever before,” said FIDF CEO
Steve Weil. “At the frontline of defense are
Israel’s soldiers, bearing witness to heinous
crimes and facing unimaginable challeng-
es. They need to know that we, as a global
community, are firmly there for them.”
Fauda star Yaakov Zada-Daniel attended event.
Detroit Stands with Israel at FIDF Event
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RON LIEBERMAN, LIEBERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF FIDF
LEFT: Fred Cahn, Linda Katzman, Executive Committee; James and Cathy Deutchman; and Leslye and Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum MIDDLE: FIDF Michigan
Chapter supporters RIGHT: Tamir Oppenheim, Vice President, Central Region; Gary Sakwa; Paula Lebowitz, Director
LEFT: Ken Donaldson, Shari Rogers, Randy Wertheimer, Nancy Katzman, Brenda Wayne, Executive Committee; and Gary Karp. MIDDLE: Ron Klein,
Steve Ingber, Aaron Belen, Matt Shiffman, Larry Becker and Justin Becker. RIGHT: Bob and Joan Chernoff Epstein, event co-chairs; Alon Kaufman,
Chairman, and Shari Ferber Kaufman, Vice President and event co-chairs; Yaakov Zada-Daniel, keynote speaker; Gary Shiffman, President, and Lisa
Shiffman, event co-chairs.