NEW YORK, Nov. 29Â — A delegation of supporters from the Tri-State area joined more than 60 leaders and supporters of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) from all walks of life and from across the United States traveled to Israel this month as part of the FIDF National Leadership Mission, getting an exclusive look into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and showing their solidarity with and appreciation for Israel’s brave soldiers.
The mission, Nov. 10-17, brought members of FIDF’s 20 chapters together with the soldiers of the IDF. Mission participants received in-depth geopolitical briefings by senior military officers, met with state leaders, toured strategic IDF bases to get a behind-the-scenes look into the Israeli military, and experienced Israel in an entirely new way.
The group of FIDF leaders visited FIDF-sponsored well-being and educational facilities on IDF bases and met beneficiaries of FIDF programs — including Lone Soldiers with no immediate family in Israel, and students who benefit from the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which grants college scholarships to IDF combat veterans of modest means; toured pivotal military installations, such as the Ramat David Air Force Base, to get a comprehensive look into the cutting-edge technology Israel employs to protect its skies and borders; and heard firsthand from IDF combat soldiers serving on Israel’s front lines.
Leading the FIDF National Leadership Mission were FIDF National President and Mission Chairman Peter Weintraub and FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir.
“This National Leadership Mission allowed our supporters and the brave men and women of the IDF to forge even deeper bonds of friendship,” said Klifi-Amir. “These young soldiers risk their lives every day serving the State of Israel and protecting Jews around the world. This mission allowed our supporters to see the life-changing impact their contributions make. It also offered our supporters a rare opportunity to personally thank IDF soldiers for their service, and to learn more about how we can support their well-being even more.”
He added: “For Israeli soldiers, the chance to meet the men and women who support FIDF, while the soldiers are serving, and right on their own army bases, gives them a powerful morale boost and helps them see the critical role they play in the lives of Jews everywhere.”
“For one incredible week, we brought American FIDF supporters to Israel to visit the IDF’s brave and devoted soldiers and tell them, in one unified voice, how much we appreciate and support them,” said Weintraub. “We had unprecedented access to their daily lives, visiting them on their bases across Israel and hearing their stories firsthand.”