Miami Beach, FL – February 2, 2017 – Over 550 supporters from Florida and across the U.S. gathered at Faena Forum for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) International Miami Gala, raising over $3.3 million to support the brave men and women of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Chairing the gala was Miami-based businessman and philanthropist Benny Shabtai, who has been an avid supporter of FIDF for decades and has helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars to support well-being and educational programs for IDF soldiers and veterans, along with co-chair Oren Alexander. Shabtai chaired the FIDF National Gala in New York for 15  years. Presiding as the evening’s master of ceremonies was Fox Business and Fox News anchor, investigative  journalist, and author Trish Regan. During the gala, a special live satellite link connected the guests with the commander of the Israeli Air Force  (IAF), Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, as well as with IAF officers and pilots of the F-35 fighter jets – the most advanced  fighter jets in the region – which arrived in Israel from the U.S. last month. The aircraft are stationed at an air  force base in Israel’s Negev desert, where Lt. Col. Y. leads the new fighter squadron.

Attending the gala was a delegation of 12 IDF soldiers, including men and women from Israel’s newest coed  combat infantry battalion, the Lions of Jordan. Part of the IDF’s 417th “Lion” Brigade, the Lions of Jordan Battalion is responsible for securing Israel’s Jordan Valley. At the gala, Sgt. Leonid, a squad leader, and Sgt. Adriana, who shot and killed a terrorist who was attempting to stab one of her fellow soldiers, discussed how, as members of one of the world’s only coed combat infantry units, the battalion’s men and women train and fight side by side. Other distinguished guests included Golden Globe winner George Hamilton; Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine; Counsel General of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico Lior Haiat; President and Founder of the  International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein; FIDF National President Peter  Weintraub; FIDF National Chairman Emeritus Nily Falic; FIDF Miami President Oscar Feldenkreis; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; FIDF Florida Executive Director Dina Ben-Ari; Rabbi Lipskar from the Shul of Bal Harbour; Barry Sternlicht; David Tepper; Eddie Lampert; Don Soffer; Jim Ferraro; Chris Burch; and Alex Blavatnik.

 

GALLERY SLIDER