Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Invests in the Future of the Jewish People

An Israeli soldier comforts a furry friend in the canine special forces division at the Hatzerim Air Force Base near Beersheva. (Debbie Zimelman, via JTA)

While the majority of American Jews have heard of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, many do not know exactly what FIDF does. Some people perceive the nonprofit as being involved in supplying weaponry and military supplies.

This is far from the truth.

The IDF is a great unifier of Jews from five continents, 70 countries, and multiple cultures and perspectives. FIDF provides educational and well-being programs aimed at building the future of Israel and the Jewish people.

The work FIDF is doing is more important now than ever. FIDF has implemented programs to address the emergency needs of all soldiers during the pandemic, including distributing snack and sweets packages, hygiene kits, yoga mats, gym equipment and more to bases across Israel (and those quarantined at home).

As the IDF intensifies its efforts to assist all sectors of the Israeli population while protecting its borders and maintaining operational preparedness, FIDF is working closely with IDF officials to support soldiers’ increasing well-being needs as the situation progresses.

An important aspect of this support is providing financial assistance to soldiers and their families. Last year, FIDF assisted approximately 8,000 soldiers in need by providing critical aid for basic appliances and furniture, food vouchers, special grants and holiday gift vouchers. This year, the number of eligible soldiers for the program increased to nearly 30,000. Soldiers with financial difficulties are challenged even more now and are in immediate need of financial relief.

A main priority for FIDF is Project Overcome, which assists young Israeli citizens who struggle with emotional problems, addictions, low self-esteem or lack of ambition, often exacerbated by poverty and criminal backgrounds. Through Project Overcome, which takes place during the course of IDF service, at-risk youth can reform their behavior and gain tools and life skills relevant for army service and as professionals in the civilian market.

A pair of IDF Artillery Corps fighters stand in front of a tank in the Israeli town of Shivta. (Debbie Zimelman, via JTA)

In addition, FIDF continues to invest heavily in its educational programs. Chief among these programs is the FIDF’s IMPACT Scholarship program, tailored for former combat soldiers who come from challenging socio-economic backgrounds and enabling them to achieve their dreams of higher education.

The FIDF Mid-Atlantic community has been a strong supporter of many FIDF programs, including sponsoring around 900 IMPACT! scholarships over the years, with 203 current IMPACT! students; adopting six IDF battalions; and funding construction projects such as the military seminary of the IDF Education Corps at the Sapir Jewish Heritage Center in Jerusalem.

The Mid-Atlantic region is home to 84 Lone Soldiers, those who join the IDF with no immediate family in Israel and currently serving in the IDF.

During these difficult times, we at the FIDF Maryland Chapter are continuing to connect our supporters with soldiers on the ground in Israel through virtual briefings, events and regular updates. Recently, our community came together to hold the first-ever Virtual Mid-Atlantic Poker Tournament fundraiser.

In addition, during the weekend of Oct. 30, the Baltimore community joined to salute, honor and connect with Lone Soldiers with the first-ever Baltimore Lone Soldier Shabbat. Both events engaged local FIDF supporters and promoted the FIDF cause on behalf of Israel’s young men and women in uniform.

In September, FIDF welcomed its new national director and CEO, Steven Weil, who plans to develop FIDF in the long-term and build upon its vital position within the American philanthropic community. To further deepen FIDF’s philanthropic roots within the local community and allow for a prolonged tenure of the CEO, FIDF’s board decided to appoint an American-based CEO, along with an IDF general to strengthen fundraising efforts.

Our goals going forward are to expand our core base and connect all of American Jewry — from all backgrounds and world views — to the future of Israel through the lives of the soldiers.

As part of FIDF’s expansion and restructuring, our Maryland chapter, along with the rest of the Mid-Atlantic region, has joined the newly formed FIDF Eastern Region, led by its new regional executive director, Seth Baron. The Eastern Region will be able to better utilize valuable organizational resources to engage new supporters, and will comprise Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, D.C., Maryland and Delaware.

On a personal note, as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and having come from a family with six generations in Israel, I am proud to work with our FIDF Baltimore board and lay leaders who are extremely focused on the life-changing work we do to build the future of Israeli society.

We in Baltimore have big plans to support Israel’s next generation, and we hope you can be a part of it.

An Owings Mills resident, Reut Friedman is FIDF’s Maryland director.

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