1,300 New England Leaders Gather for FIDF Benefit

More than 1,300 members of the Greater Boston community gathered Nov. 20 for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) New England Dinner, “A Night of Heroes,” at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, raising over $1.3 million to support well-being and educational programs for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers.

The dinner’s guest speakers, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yossi Baidatz and Israel Bonds President and CEO Israel Maimon, discussed previously classified details about the 2007 Israeli Air Force strike on the Syrian nuclear reactor, which was dubbed “Operation Outside the Box.”

A group of IDF soldiers also participated in the dinner. The diverse delegation of soldiers included Staff Sgt. J., a Catholic Christian Arab and a fighter in the Iron Dome Battalion of the Aerial Defense program; and Staff Sgt. (Res.) Moshe, who made Aliyah (immigrated) from Tajikistan at the age of 10 and was recognized as a Lone Soldier -- one who voluntarily enlists in the IDF without having immediate family in Israel. Sgt. Moshe is also a recipient of FIDF’s IMPACT! Scholarship and Project Overcome. Several Boston-area Lone Soldiers also attended, including Staff Sgt. (Res.) R. and Sgt. Keren, who served in the rescue unit of the Home Front Command. Sgt. (Res.) Diana, an FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship recipient who appeared on “The Voice Israel” reality TV show, sang at the event.

Other distinguished guests included FIDF New England Board Chair and National Board Member Sharon Mishkin; FIDF New England Board Vice Chairs Rosaline Barron, Sara Bernstein, Seth Stier, David Cohen, and Michael Field; and FIDF New England Executive Director Guy Ronen.

“The New England dinner provided an opportunity for our local supporters to shake hands with the men and women of the IDF who directly benefit from FIDF’s programs,” said Ronen. “It was especially rewarding for guests to hear from the brave soldiers and personally thank them for risking everything to defend Israel – and Jews worldwide.”