FIDF Supporters Host Children of Fallen Israeli Soldiers at North Shore Homes

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) families in several North Shore towns hosted 37 children of fallen IDF soldiers recently as part of what’s called the LEGACY program to meet local FIDF supporters and attend a week-and-a-half-long recreation camp.

The program is the result of a partnership between the FIDF - a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting programs for the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces - and an Israeli charity to bring orphans (those who have lost a parent who served in the military) from Israel to the United States for a three-and-a-half week tour usually during a right of passage like their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah.

Deerfield resident Howard Dakoff and his family have hosted a group of orphans each of the last four years, this year opening their home to three Israeli girls and a counselor for five days. For Dakoff, it’s the “cultural bridge” between the supporters in the United States and those affected most in Israel that makes the LEGACY program particularly important.

“We absolutely love the experience of hosting these orphans and the cultural bridge it creates by connecting my children to the children in the land of Israel,” he said.

» News Alerts: Subscribe to Patch by email on the North Shore: EVANSTON • HIGHLAND PARK •WINNETKA-GLENCOE • LAKE FOREST • DEERFIELD• NORTHBROOK • GLENVIEW • SKOKIE •WILMETTE-KENILWORTH

The phrase, “One heart, one people” is “part of our obligation to care for these IDF orphans” - Dakoff contends.

“On an emotional standpoint, we recognize and appreciate the sacrifice these families made while defending the State of Israel. We are honored and privileged to be hosts.”

Dakoff said his group of 12- and 13-year-old Israeli girls did a bit of everything during their mid-summer stay on the North Shore. They went shopping at Old Orchard Mall, went miniature golfing in Lincolnshire, saw plenty of Starbucks, had a pool party with the others participating in the program at the home of Lori Komisar and Morris Silverman in Winnetka and hosted a Shabat dinner for five other families.

At the JCC Camp Chi outside Milwaukee, the Israeli teens had a chance to bond with each other and meet American peers, forming friendships that will last a lifetime. They participated in both typical American camp activities – including swimming, archery, rock climbing, and arts & crafts – and in more familiar traditions, such as Israeli dancing and Jewish learning.

“These brave children have suffered such tremendous loss,” said Komisar. “For their bnei mitzvah, we wanted to find a way to show them how much we appreciate the sacrifices their families made and that FIDF is here to support them. There is no better gift than bringing these incredible kids here to share in the uniquely American experience of summer camp.”

Dakoff said the girls benefitted him and his wife, Melissa and three children: Jordan, 8, Joshua, 6 and Juliet, 5 as much as his family helped them.

“They experience getting love from people halfway around the world and knowing that people who didn’t even know them care about them and are willing to give them a loving environment. We get that feeling of joy of giving love to someone whose family has endured so much.”

It’s equally as vital for the American children to personalize Israel, not to see it as an abstract concept but to picture the kids who stayed in their home, he said.

In addition to their time with FIDF supporters in Chicago, the orphans enjoyed a day trip to Lake Delton up in Wisconsin and visited the cities of Toronto and New York before heading back to Israel.

Host families in the LEGACY program this year are from Deerfield, Highland Park, Skokie, Buffalo Grove, Glencoe and Winnetka.

-----

Photo 1: Courtesy of the Dakoff family. (L to R) Melissa Dakoff and her daughter Juliet; FIDF LEGACY teens Neta, Raz, Neta; Joshua Dakoff, FIDF LEGACY teen Adi; Jordan and her father, Howard Dakoff.

Other photos:

FIDF Legacy children and counselors gather with FIDF Central Region supporters.

FIDF Legacy children and their American peers have fun at a pool party at a Winnetka home.