FIDF raises $26 Million at National NY Gala Dinner

posted: 3/14/12 

Almost $26 million was raised Tuesday evening, March 13, when over 1,300 prominent business and philanthropic leaders from across the country gathered at the historic Waldorf=Astoria Hotel for Friends of the IDF (FIDF) National NY Gala Dinner, demonstrating their love and support for the soldiers of Israel. Among the distinguished guests who attended were FIDF National Director Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon; FIDF National Chairman Nily Falic; FIDF Chairman Emeritus Arthur Stark; Israel Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the U.S. and Canada Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni; Founder and President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein; and Israeli-American luxury fashion designer Elie Tahari. Mr.Benny Shabtai chaired the dinner for his 15th year, and author and nationally syndicated radio host Dr.Monica Crowley once again served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. 

Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, IDF Chief of the General Staff, speaking via
live satellite at the event from a military base in Southern Israel. 

Recently released after five years in captivity, IDF Soldier Gilad Shalit
offering a heartfelt message of gratitude toward FIDF supporters.

The guests were joined by Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, IDF Chief of the General Staff, who was the keynote speaker at the event. In his speech, given directly from southern Israel via live-satellite, he referred to the current situation of attacks, “The Iron Dome and active defense systems that we have now are a serious and historical milestone. I think we did right and we will do it in the future as well,” he explained. Gantz also mentioned that the IDF hunted down 22 terrorists over the last 3 days in the Gaza Strip. In his final remarks, Gantz thanked the attendees for their partnership with the IDF soldiers, “This is very important for us to know that we are not alone.” 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the audience from Israel regarding current affairs and expressed his appreciation for the great work of both Israel’s soldiers and their supporters in the U.S. “The Jewish State has the capacity to resist attacks. The Israeli army is the guarantor of our future. Thank you for standing by us,” Netanyahu said. 

IDF soldiers with Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Founder and President of the
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) and Maj. Gen.
(Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, FIDF National Director

Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, Dr. Ruth Westheimer and
IDF soldiers.

One of the evening’s highlights included a video from Gilad Shalit, the IDF soldier released last October after five years of captivity by Hamas in Gaza, where he thanked the American Jewry for their support while he was held as a prisoner by Hamas and mentioned that it warmed his heart and helped him to overcome a very difficult period. 

$25.8 million was raised by the evening’s end. Notable among the donations was $9.25 million pledged byRabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Founder and President of the IFCJ; $500,000 from the Iranian American Jewish Federation (IAJF); National Chairman Nily Falic pledged $500,000; National Young Leadership President Tony Felzen pledged $180,000 on behalf of his family, inspiring all FIDF Young Leadership members; and an American Astronaut, Col. Paul Lockhart surprised the audience by pledging support of $1,000. 

Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, Nily Falic, FIDF National
Chairman, and Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni, Israel Defense and Armed Forces
Attaché to the U.S. and Canada.

Mr. Benny Shabtai, FIDF National NY Gala Dinner Chairman

Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, Ambassador Ron Prosor,
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Maj. Gen.
Gadi Shamni.

The evening culminated with the heartfelt words shared by bereaved mother, Mir Hadassi, who tragically lost her son Yonatan Hadassi Z”L in 2006 at the onset of the Second Lebanon War, while serving in the Maglan Special Forces Unit. 

The funds raised during the evening will provide much needed and well-deserved services such as academic scholarships to former combat soldiers, financial support for soldiers in-need and Lone Soldiers from around the world, weeks of rest and recreation for entire IDF units, as well as educational, cultural, and recreational facilities. The evening was a rare and exclusive opportunity to pay tribute to the State of Israel and to send a message of love and support to the brave men and women in uniform.