Tags: #organization #KeyOrganizations #AmericanJewry #Lobby ![[image-119.png]] # Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF) - FIDF was founded in 1981. - FIDF has been uniquely ordained by the IDF as the primary official organization working on behalf of the IDF in the US. - FIDF is a major force in organized Jewry, however the organization purposely keeps a low profile. - Compared to groups like AIPAC or the ADL, FIDF avoids the mainstream spotlight. - Within the Jewish world FIDF is a well known fixture with among the highest revenues. - "Their job is to look after Israel; ours is to look after them." is the FDIF slogan. *Who is "their"? Who is "our"?* #### US Activity - FIDF was founded in 1981 by a collection of holocaust survivors led by John Klein. - FIDF is headquartered in New York with 25 active regional office chapters. - These regional offices are separated into five regions. - Each region has 4-6 chapter offices corresponding to the major city centers (ex. Southeast Region: Miami). - Interestingly FIDF has one chapter outside the US, Panama. - The Panama FIDF Instagram account is private. *This is likely coincidental, but I note it due to the curiousness of there being a Panamanian chapter at all.* - FIDF operates a *National Young Leadership (YL)* program. - The YL has its own sub-chapters corresponding to the established FIDF chapters - The YL hosts networking parties, shabbat dinners, and an annual "white party." - The YL hosts events where IDF soldiers connect with the future generation of US-Jewish leaders. *These YL events which host IDF soldiers, are the perfect grounds for Israeli intel recruitment. Historically Israel has used similar events as a conduit for intel recruitment.* --- - FIDF works with other Jewish groups on common interests. - [[Hillel International]] - Joint campus fundraisers with FIDF in reaction to claimed campus antisemitism. - A major FIDF and Hillel event called "Ten Sheva" held on Oct 7, 2024, was funded by [[Ronald Perelman]]. - Yael Rhode, a Ten Sheva founder and speaker said in his speech *“I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat; you’re a Jew before anything else.”* - FIDF events are often coordinated alongside [[StandWithUs (SWU)]], a pro-Israel nonprofit. - The [[International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ)]] is a major supporter of FIDF. - IFCJ gave over $6.3 million to FIDF in 2023. - American Jewish conservative commentator [[Ben Shapiro]] and his media outlet [[Daily Wire]] are longtime supporters of FIDF. - This support has become much louder after Oct. 7th. - Shapiro has advertised for FIDF on his show urging viewers to send money. ![[image-122.png]] *Ben Shapiro Oct 10, 2023, FIDF is chief among his support-Israel links.* #### Israel Activity - The FIDF leadership (CEO, CFO, programs director, etc.) are always liaising with Israeli military and government bodies. - *Of the major Jewish groups, FIDF is probably most intertwined with the Israeli state itself.* - FIDF coordinates closely with the Israeli Ministry of Defense. - FIDF works directly with the Defense Ministry's engineering/logistics branches to build infrastructure on IDF bases (synagogues, gyms, entertainment, etc.). - FIDF brings large donors on trips to tour IDF bases in Israel. - FIDF was among the organizations and individuals named in a 2017 lawsuit alleging Israel was using third party NGOs for settler activity in the West Bank. - FIDF allies also named in the suit include: - [[Ehud Barak]] - Former Israeli PM. - [[David Friedman]] - Trump's Ambassador to Israel at the time. - [[Jared Kushner]]'s Kushner Family Foundation. - [[Ron Dermer]] - Former Israeli Ambassador to the US and current Minister of Strategic Affairs, is a close ally of FIDF having spoken an a number of FIDF events. - Dermer was born American yet publicly renounced his citizenship in 2005 so that he could work for the Israeli government. --- >[!info] FIDF Programs in Israel - IMPACT! program: - The FIDF IMPACT! program provides free college for IIDF veterans. - IMPACT! matches donors with disadvantaged IDF veterans for college scholarships. - Through the program ~20,000 IDF veterans have received scholarships. - FIDF praised the May 2022 passing of the "Absorption of Discharged Soldiers Bill" (ADSB). - The ADSB entitles IDF soldiers to 75% coverage of their school tuition. - FIDF and the IMPACT! program position themselves to cover the remaining 25%. #RedPill *Jews love the free market for everyone except Jews. Israel has a large and active welfare state which American "free-market" Jews seem to have no problem with.* - Lone soldier programs: - Israeli "lone soldiers" are either immigrant soldiers or soldiers with no immediate family in Israel. - Lone soldiers are a unique phenomenon in Israel with many diaspora Jews fighting in the Israeli army instead of their home country. - FIDF CEO from 2020-2025, rabbi Steven Weil, had a daughter serving in the IDF as a lone soldier while he ran FIDF. - FIDF spends ~$20 million annually on lone soldiers. - FIDF has build large lone soldier housing centers in Israel. Specifically they spent $5 million on a housing center in 2013. - FIDF provides amenities, phones, flights to visit family, etc. to lone soldiers. - FIDF runs "Operation Hibuk" which funds trips for the families of lone soldiers to visit them in Israel. - Legacy Program: - FIDF sponsors programs for the families of fallen IDF soldiers. - FDIF brings the siblings of fallen IDF soldiers to the US for summer camps and Jewish community tours. - FIDF provides financial support and sponsors retreats for the families of fallen IDF soldiers. - Dignity Program: - The FIDF believes many IDF soldiers are not paid enough. - The FIDF funds all aspects of IDF soldiers' lives through their Dignity Program. - Cloths, rent, weddings, food, general bills, etc., can all be covered by the FIDF. - FIDF offers similar assistance in the form of "Personal Necessities Vouchers." - Adopts a Brigade: - FIDF offers donors the ability to "adopt a brigade/battalion." - Donors can chose a specific unit to sponsor, with funds being distributed directly to those soldiers. - These "adoption" programs are made for donors to become more involved on the ground level with the soldiers. - Adoption-donors often come in the form of a synagogue or Jewish center choosing a unit for their contributions to support. - FIDF sponsors IDF troop visits to Yad Vashem, the official Israeli holocaust memorial institution. - FIDF works closely with the [[Witnesses in Uniform]] (WIU) program. - The WIU brings IDF troops to the, mostly Polish, holocaust-tourism sites. - The WIU program is a propagandizing project on two fronts; for the soldiers seeing the "sites" and for the world seeing the Israeli soldiers at those sites. #### Notable Leaders/Figures - Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Gershon - FIDF CEO and National Director from 2008-2014. - Former General Gershon believes Israel should annex the West Bank. - Maj. Gen. Meir Kalifi-Amir - CEO of FIDF from 2014-2020. - Rabbi Steven Weil - CEO of FIDF from 2020-2025. - Weil was the first US born FIDF leader in recent times. - Weil was a top official of the [[Orthodox Union]]. - Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan - Current FIDF CEO. ![[image-121.png]] *Current FIDF CEO Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan guides [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and [[John Bolton]] on a helicopter tour of the Jordan Valley, 2019.* --- - The FIDF board has included:[^6] - [[Nily Falic]] - The Falic Family is very close with [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. - [[Arthur Stark]] - [[Bob Shillman]][^5] - [[Mark Dubowitz]] - FIDF keynote speaker in 2024. Dubowitz is the CEO of [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]]. #### Funding - Like many Jewish groups FIDF revenue rises sharply during times of conflict in Israel. - Due to the nature of FIDF activity, this trend is even more extreme. - In reaction to [[October 7th]] , 2023 FIDF revenue surged to ~$286 million. - FIDF took $2 million in US government Paycheck Protection Program money during Covid. --- Notable Donors: - [[Jeffrey Epstein]] - $25,000 in 2006[^1] - [[Jared Kushner]] - Sat on the FIDF national board. Large donor. - [[Haim Saban]] - Hosts FIDF galas and fundraising events. Large donor. - [[Larry Ellison]] - Gave $10 Million in 2014. Gave $16.6 million in 2017. - [[Sheldon Adelson]] and [[Miriam Adelson]] - Gave millions to FIDF including $5 million in 2014. - [[Steve Tisch]] of the [[Tisch Family]] - Gave at least $1.8 million. - [[Stewart Resnick]] - Gave $2.4 million to FIDF between 2015-2022. - [[Ronald Perelman]] - Funded the "Ten Sheva" FIDF event on Oct, 7th, 2024. - [[Crown Family Foundation]] - $300,000 donated in 2023. - [[Iranian American Jewish Federation]] - Gave a $890,000 grant in 2023. - [[Leon Black]] - $300,000 from 2015-2017.[^2][^3][^4] - [[Paul Singer]]'s [[Paul E. Singer Foundation|Foundation]] - 1,732,000 from 2011-2024[^7] ![[image-120.png|553x411]] *David Siegel, Haim Saban, Larry Ellison at the 2014 FIDF gala*. #### References - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Friends of the IDF – Supporting Israel Defense Forces.” FIDF. [https://www.fidf.org/](https://www.fidf.org/) - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Chapters.” FIDF. https://www.fidf.org/chapters/ - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Financials.” FIDF. https://www.fidf.org/financials/ - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. _Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (FYE 2022)._ PDF, April 2025. https://www.fidf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FIDF-2022-Form-990-PD-Copy-1.pdf - Projects ProPublica. “Friends of the Israel Defense Forces – Nonprofit Explorer (All Filings, incl. 2022, 2023).” ProPublica. - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Educational Programs – Empowering IDF Soldiers.” FIDF. [https://www.fidf.org/educational-programs/](https://www.fidf.org/educational-programs/). - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “IMPACT! – Leaders of Tomorrow.” FIDF. https://www.fidf.org/impact-leaders-of-tomorrow/. - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Lone Soldier Support.” FIDF. https://www.fidf.org/lone-soldier-support/. - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Wounded Soldier & Bereaved Family Support.” FIDF. https://www.fidf.org/wounded-soldier-bereaved-family-support/. - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Financial Support.” FIDF. https://www.fidf.org/financial-support/ - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. “Holocaust to Independence Mission (Poland & Israel), April 24–May 2, 2025.” FIDF Events. https://www.fidf.org/event/2025-mission-to-poland-and-israel/ - InfluenceWatch. “Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) - Notable 2023 Institutional Grants (IFCJ, IAJF, OSJL, Crown Family, etc.).” InfluenceWatch (Capital Research Center). https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/friends-of-the-israel-defense-forces-fidf/ - Projects ProPublica. “Friends of the Israel Defense Forces – Nonprofit Explorer (Key staff compensation; filings).” ProPublica. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133156445 - Projects ProPublica. “International Fellowship of Christians & Jews – Full Filing (FYE 2023).” ProPublica. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/363256096/202423129349303912/full - Harding Amanda. “Ben Shapiro Shares 5 Ways To Help Israel In Wake Of Hamas Attacks.” _Daily Wire_, October 9, 2023. [https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-shares-5-ways-to-help-israel-in-wake-of-hamas-attacks](https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-shares-5-ways-to-help-israel-in-wake-of-hamas-attacks?) - StandWithUs. “Los Angeles StandWithUs Events – May 2 and 4, 2022.” _StandWithUs Newsroom_, May 23, 2022. [https://standwithus.com/news/los-angeles-standwithus-events-for-yom-may-2-and-4/](https://standwithus.com/news/los-angeles-standwithus-events-for-yom-may-2-and-4/) - Daunt, Tina. “Haim Saban Raises $34M to Support Israel Defense Forces.” _The Hollywood Reporter_, November 7, 2014. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/haim-saban-raises-34m-support-747379/ - “Hollywood gala raises a record $33 million for IDF.” _Times of Israel_, November 8, 2014. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/hollywood-gala-raises-a-record-33-million-for-idf/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/hollywood-gala-raises-a-record-33-million-for-idf/) [^1]: Simon Speakman Cordall, “What Were Jeffrey Epstein’s Links to Israel?” _Al Jazeera_, February 9, 2026, [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/9/what-were-jeffrey-epsteins-links-to-israel#:~:text=Through%20Epstein%E2%80%99s%20COUQ%20Foundation%2C%20he%20provided%20Friends%20of%20the%20Israeli%20Defence%20Forces%20(FIDF)](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/9/what-were-jeffrey-epsteins-links-to-israel#:~:text=Through%20Epstein%E2%80%99s%20COUQ%20Foundation%2C%20he%20provided%20Friends%20of%20the%20Israeli%20Defence%20Forces%20\(FIDF\)). [^2]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2016),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201712919349100101/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201712919349100101/full). [^3]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2017),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201811319349102261/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201811319349102261/full). [^4]: “Debra and Leon Black Family Foundation, Form 990-PF (2015),” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201622289349100227/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133947890/201622289349100227/full). [^5]: “Robert J. Shillman,” Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_J._Shillman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_J._Shillman). [^6]: “Leadership,” Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, [https://www.fidf.org/leadership/#:~:text=President%2C%20MidAtlantic%20Region-,Board%20of%20Directors,-Harvey%20Axelrod%0AGary](https://www.fidf.org/leadership/#:~:text=President%2C%20MidAtlantic%20Region-,Board%20of%20Directors,-Harvey%20Axelrod%0AGary). [^7]: ProPublica, “Paul E Singer Foundation,” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342)