Midwestern Leaders Visit Israel for Look into Soldiers' Lives

Photo credits: Shahar Azran.

CHICAGO – A delegation of supporters from FIDF’s Midwest Region 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 last 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.”

Below please find photos from the FIDF National Leadership Mission to Israel, Nov. 10-17. Photo credits: Shahar Azran.

Photo #1: The group of FIDF Midwest leaders with soldiers of the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade and a Merkava IV main battle tank in the Golan Heights on Nov. 14.

Photo #2: The delegation of American FIDF supporters in front of an F-16 fighter jet at the Ramat David Air Force Base near Haifa, Israel, on Nov. 15.

Photo #3: The delegation of American FIDF supporters with soldiers from the IDF’s Armored Corps and two Merkava IV main battle tanks in the Golan Heights on Nov. 14.

Photo #4: (From left) FIDF supporter Herb Nevyas, FIDF National President and Mission Chairman Peter Weintraub; FIDF Mid-Atlantic Executive Director Ari Dallas; FIDF supporters Marie Taubman and Ed Leff; Israel Border Police Commander Maj. Gen. Yaakov (Kobi) Shabtai; FIDF supporter Michael Berk; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; FIDF supporterS Morrie Symson and Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Bart Gilbert at a Border Police base on Nov. 12. Veterans of the American armed forces are wearing dog tags.

Photo #5: Israel Border Police Commander Maj. Gen. Yaakov (Kobi) Shabtai with FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir and FIDF National President and Mission Chairman Peter Weintraub at a Border Police base on Nov. 12.

Photo #6: An IDF special operations combat engineer with American FIDF supporters on Nov. 16.

Photo #7: (From left) FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai; FIDF supporter Gary Rothbart; and FIDF National President and Mission Chairman Peter Weintraub at the Tel Aviv port on Nov. 16.