DC young professionals gather for Rockville event

A strong turnout of young professionals from the Mid-Atlantic and Greater DC areas gathered Dec. 7 for the annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) NEXT (Young Leadership) celebration, at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville. Proceeds from the event, themed “Latke Vodka,” will support FIDF’s well-being and education programs for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers.

FIDF supporters Erin and Ross Fierman and Shira and Danny Weiss, of Rockville and Brookville, respectively, served as event co-chairs.

This year’s Latke Vodka celebration supported FIDF’s Project Overcome, which gives a second chance to IDF soldiers from challenging backgrounds and helps them gain crucial skills during their military service. The program enables them to have a more fulfilling service and, later, become productive citizens with promising opportunities.

The event featured a latke bar, an FIDF ice luge and a greenscreen that embedded fun Israeli-themed backgrounds in guests’ photos. Guests were encouraged to wear festive clothing, from “ugly” holiday sweaters to chic cocktail attire.

Distinguished guests included FIDF NEXT Chairs Glenn Benson and Scott Fishkind; FIDF Mid-Atlantic Women’s Brigade Chair Rachel Federowicz; FIDF Mid-Atlantic Executive Director Ari Dallas; and FIDF Washington D.C. Associate Director Josh Stevens.

Active-duty IDF soldiers and veterans who receive FIDF support participated in the event.

“The Latke Vodka event is an incredible opportunity to meet soldiers from the IDF, each one a hero,” said Stevens. “And whenever we do so, we want it to be a reminder to them that they have friends, family, and supporters across the globe and here in the U.S. It is wonderful to build this community among our young professionals, in support of Israel’s soldiers.”

FIDF’s Young Leadership (YL) Division provides individuals the opportunity to become involved in the organization’s work while socializing and networking with their peers. It offers a diverse range of educational and social activities throughout the year, including parlor meetings with IDF soldiers, Shabbat dinners, parties, and speaker’s series, to raise awareness for FIDF’s various programs. YL also hosts fundraising parties at local hot spots that attract hundreds of guests and allocates the funds it raises at these events to support FIDF’s programs and services.