2026-03-25 11:28:AM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #Israel #organization ![[image-257.png|208]] # American Friends of LIBI - American Friends of LIBI (AF LIBI) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides material and immaterial support to the Israeli Defense Forces. - AF LIBI is based in Brighton, Massachusetts, a neighborhood of Boston. - According to its [website](https://friendsoflibi.org/#:~:text=Ministry%20of%20Defense-,Mission%3A,-LIBI%20is%20a) "American Friends of LIBI connects U.S. donors directly with this mission, operating with the IDF and Israel’s Ministry of Defense authorization."[^3] #### Activities - AF LIBI was founded to raise money for LIBI Fund, the official Israeli government support organization for the IDF.[^11] - The LIBI Fund was founded in 1980 by Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]] and IDF Chief of Staff [[Rafael Eitan]]. - As reported in *JWeekly*, "LIBI stands for the Hebrew phrase “l’maan bitachon Israel,” meaning “for the benefit of Israel’s security.” “Libi” also means “my heart” in Hebrew."[^2] #RedPill *Why do Americans support AF LIBI? Because they are Jewish. And because they are Jewish, they feel an innate and irremovable affinity for Israel, the Jewish state. Because of this affinity they will use their positions of power/wealth to benefit Israel regardless of detriments to American national interest. This has been, and always will be, an ethnic and religious matter.* - AF LIBI is a smaller, more streamlined, and more informal alternative to [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]]. - AF LIBI cultivates donors through personal networks, with donor diners often held at the homes of AF LIBI officials.[^2] - Since its founding, AF LIBI has [reportedly](https://jweekly.com/2025/10/27/after-fidf-turmoil-some-local-donors-turn-to-smaller-nonprofit-that-also-aids-idf/#:~:text=AFL%20has%20raised-,%24180%20million,-to%20support%20social) raised $180+ million to support the IDF.[^2] #### Funding and Donors - AF LIBI reported $11.4 million in revenue in 2024 and $13.6 million in 2023.[^1] *When AF LIBI's FY 2025 financial documents are released, the extent of its growth following FIDF turmoil earlier that year will become evident.* - AF LIBI boasts: "Over 90% of the funds raised went directly and immediately to support the soldiers at the designated units." *AF LIBI has no paid staff and maintains an efficient operation.* - These figures are a massive increase from the organization's prior average of $1-4 million annually. - The increase in AF LIBI's revenue coincides with Israel's [[Eight Front War|military actions]] since [[October 7th]]. - [[Henry Samueli]] via his Samueli Foundation - $25,000 in 2024[^4] - [[Seth Klarman]]'s foundation - At least $600,000 from 2009-2013.[^9] - [[Jewish Communal Fund]] - $469,341 from 2017-2024 given by anonymous donors.[^10] #### Notable Figures *4/6 of the figures listed below are Israeli citizens.* - Zvi Alon - Chairman since 2025 - Alon joined AF LIBI in 2025 after organizational turmoil at [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]], for which he was a board member. - Alon is an Israeli citizen. - Ricki Alon - Wife of Zvi Alon and AF LIBI board member - Like Zvi, Ricki Alon is an Israeli citizen. - Brigadier General (reserve) Yehiel Gozal - AF LIBI's IDF liaison[^5] - Gozal played a similar IDF-liaison role for the [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]] from 2020-2024.[^6] - Dr. John Grossman - Chairman emeritus[^7] - According to his bio on AF LIBI's website, Grossman "travels to Israel several times a year, and is actually in the Holy Land right now."[^7] - Shimshon Erenfeld - Vice chairman and treasurer[^7][^1] - Erenfeld is an Israeli who served in the IDF. - Karen D. Hurvitz - An AF LIBI director[^7] - According to her bio on AF LIBI's website, "Her commitment to the IDF and LIBI comes from her support of Israel and its soldiers, who pledge to protect not only Israelis but also Jews in danger all over the world." *An American citizen feels secure because another country's military has vowed to protect her. This is a completely unique phenomenon and it is entirely Jewish.* - Rabbi Menachem Fellig - An AF LIBI director[^1] - Fellig runs the [[Chabad Lubavitch|Chabad]] Jewish [[Chabad On Campus|Student Center]] at the University of Miami.[^8] - Fellig is a certified holocaust educator. - Holocaust education certification is granted by Israel's national holocaust institution Yad Vashem. #### References [^1]: ProPublica, “American Friends of Libi Inc.,” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/320081620](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/320081620). [^2]: Emma Goss, “After FIDF Turmoil, Some Local Donors Turn to Smaller Nonprofit That Also Aids IDF,” _J. The Jewish News of Northern California_, October 27, 2025, [https://jweekly.com/2025/10/27/after-fidf-turmoil-some-local-donors-turn-to-smaller-nonprofit-that-also-aids-idf/](https://jweekly.com/2025/10/27/after-fidf-turmoil-some-local-donors-turn-to-smaller-nonprofit-that-also-aids-idf/). [^3]: American Friends of LIBI, “Mission,” [https://friendsoflibi.org/#:~:text=Ministry%20of%20Defense-,Mission%3A,-LIBI%20is%20a](https://friendsoflibi.org/#:~:text=Ministry%20of%20Defense-,Mission%3A,-LIBI%20is%20a). [^4]: Samueli Foundation, _Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax_, fiscal year ending December 2024, _ProPublica_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330758237/202523219349108742/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330758237/202523219349108742/full). [^5]: Judah Ari Gross, “Newly Revamped American Friends of LIBI Looks to Offer Alternative to FIDF for Supporting Israeli Soldiers,” _eJewishPhilanthropy_, October 10, 2025, [https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/newly-revamped-american-friends-of-libi-looks-to-offer-alternative-to-fidf-for-supporting-israeli-soldiers/](https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/newly-revamped-american-friends-of-libi-looks-to-offer-alternative-to-fidf-for-supporting-israeli-soldiers/). [^6]: “Yehiel Gozal,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehiel_Gozal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehiel_Gozal). [^7]: “Leadership,” _American Friends of LIBI_, [https://friendsoflibi.org/leadership/](https://friendsoflibi.org/leadership/). [^8]: Ashley A. Williams, “Chaplain Becomes Certified Holocaust Educator,” _University of Miami News@TheU_, March 31, 2020, [https://news.miami.edu/stories/https://news.miami.edu/stories/2020/03/chaplain-becomes-certified-holocaust-educator.html2020/03/chaplain-becomes-certified-holocaust-educator.html](https://news.miami.edu/stories/2020/03/chaplain-becomes-certified-holocaust-educator.html). [^9]: “American Friends of LIBI,” _The Mapping Project_, [https://mapliberation.org/plain/entities/AmericanFriendsofLIBI.html#:~:text=Friends%20of%20LIBI.-,Financial%20Support,-%E2%80%93%20Seth%20Klarman](https://mapliberation.org/plain/entities/AmericanFriendsofLIBI.html#:~:text=Friends%20of%20LIBI.-,Financial%20Support,-%E2%80%93%20Seth%20Klarman). *Klarman is mentioned under the links tab.* [^10]: “Jewish Communal Fund,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237174183](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237174183). [^11]: “About,” _American Friends of LIBI_, [https://friendsoflibi.org/about/](https://friendsoflibi.org/about).