Arizonan Community Leaders Host Inaugural FIDF Dinner

Some 200 Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supporters gathered on Thursday, Feb. 20, for the sold-out FIDF Inaugural Arizona Dinner at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale, featuring a star of the hit Netflix series “Fauda.” The event raised around $200,000 to support educational and well-being programs for the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Headlining the event, themed “A Night of Heroes,” was Israeli actor Yaakov Zada Daniel, who plays one of the members of an elite IDF anti-terror unit in “Fauda.” The show’s first two seasons generated rave reviews and became a highly watched Netflix series.

Daniel was a recipient of the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which grants four-year academic scholarships to combat and combat-support soldiers from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds. Also attending the first-ever Arizona FIDF Dinner were other IDF soldiers, including Staff Sgt. K., from Missouri, who is an IDF Lone Soldier – one who enlists in the IDF without any immediate family in Israel. Sgt. Shira, an Arizona native and Lone Soldier surprised her family with an emotional reunion at the dinner.

Chairing the dinner were Arizona FIDF supporters Melanie and Hilton Efune; and Tracy and Victoria Conrad.

Other distinguished guests in attendance included the Israel Air Force (IAF) Attaché to the United States Brig. Gen. Amir Keren; FIDF National Board Member and San Diego Chairman Alan Katz; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; FIDF San Diego, Orange County, and Arizona Executive Director Oz Laniado; and FIDF San Diego Associate Director Elana Michael.

“This is a significant turning point in our community’s efforts to strengthen and build the FIDF family in Arizona,” said Laniado. “We stand together with the brave men and women who risk their lives to defend and protect the Jewish state, and all of the Jewish people around the world.”