JNF-USA Western PA Breakfast for Israel: Fauda Style

Stars of the binge-worthy Israeli Netflix hit series Fauda will be joining Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA), the Pittsburgh community, and thousands of supporters across the country for the organization’s annual Breakfast for Israel on April 18 at 10:30 am ET. While participants may have to BTOB (bring their own bagel) to this year’s virtual “breakfast,” JNF-USA promises to deliver the same high-quality, star-studded complimentary event that community members have become accustomed to since the first annual Breakfast for Israel dazzled eventgoers in 2003.

“JNF-USA’s Breakfast for Israel has become a much-looked-forward-to event on the communal calendar,” said Ira Frank, Pittsburgh event co-chair, and Western PA board member. “This year, we’re hosting a vibrant celebration in honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) as we bring our community together to ensure a bright, prosperous future for the land and people of Israel and Jewish people everywhere.”

According to The Wrap News Inc., “Despite the language barrier, Fauda (chaos in Arabic), somehow managed to break out of the dark corners of Netflix’s foreign-language section and get noticed by both Hollywood heavy-hitters and New York Times TV critics.” Guests who attend JNF-USA’s 2021 Breakfast for Israel will hear from Fauda celebs, Tsahi Halevi who plays Naor and Rona-Lee Shimon who plays Nurit, live in-studio — with Yoav Limor, a veteran military correspondent who has been covering the Middle East conflict for the last 33 years, moderating the interview and Q&A session. Today, Limor is the host of a morning show on Israel’s Channel 2 Keshet, a defense commentator for Israel Hayom daily newspaper, and a regular contributor on i24 News.

“Whether in-person or virtually, we’ve seen attendance at our annual Breakfast for Israel event skyrocket year after year, as hundreds of supporters from coast to coast come together to support the land and people of Israel,” said Pittsburgh residents and JNF-USA Western PA board members Debbie Resnick and Judith Kline, who also serve as co-chairs of the event. “This year, we’re expecting record-high participation. After all, who doesn’t love Fauda?!”

In addition to her career as an Israeli actress, Rona-Lee Shimon is a trained ballet dancer who studied at the National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam. She also has extensive experience in Israeli theater, having performed the roles of Velma Kelly in Chicago, Anita in West Side Story, and Sally Bowles in Cabaret. In addition to his role in Fauda, Tsahi Halevi also starred in the drama film "Bethlehem," which won an Ophir (Israeli Oscar) for Best Picture and he reached the finals in the first season of “The Voice Israel.”

Event details:

What: Jewish National Fund-USA Breakfast for Israel

When: April 18, 2021 at 10:30 am ET

Where: Register at jnf.org/bfi and ensure to select the orange location square titled “Western PA”

Cost: Free to attend

Questions about the event? Contact Jeffrey Koch, Director, Western Pennsylvania at 412-521-3200 x 770 or jkoch@jnf.org

Visit jnf.org/ondemandto view additional upcoming virtual events.