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. 

