Atlanta Chapter

The Atlanta Chapter of the Friends of the IDF (FIDF) is relatively new to the organization. Founded 5 years ago, the Chapter has raised most of its yearly donations through parlor meetings and mailings. Atlanta can now boast its first (and successful) Gala Dinner this past April! Please read the highlights below. Atlanta is also the birthplace of FIDF’s Young Soldier Program. Click to read more about it!

While the Atlanta Chapter is mainly focused on programming in Greater Atlanta, we have worked with donors throughout the state and in other major Southeast Cities such as Chattanooga, Nashville, Charlotte, Greenville, Charleston, Birmingham, Oklahoma City and more. A hearty Thank You goes to all the Southeast donors who reach out to us!

Atlanta’s Chairman, Howard Wexler is seeking to strengthen our Board and Programming Committees. Please let us know if you are interested in serving.

Please call, email or text us below to get involved, join the mailing list, become a host, make a donation or just ask a question!

Atlanta Chapter | PO Box 80126 | Atlanta, GA 30366 | 404-316-0255 | atlanta@FIDF.org

Michael Morris | Director | 404-316-0255 | Michael.M@FIDF.org

julie Benveniste | Assoc Director | 404-316-7514 | Julie.Benveniste@FIDF.org


Upcoming Events


Parlor Meetings and Security Briefings in the Fall
Dates TBD, 2010

National Boot Camp Mission
October 8-14, 2010

Joint Programming with the Atlanta Film Festival
February 8 -27, 2011

IDentiFy 2011 – Atlanta’s Gala Dinner
March 31, 2011

In Addition
Ziv Koren Books, “Brotherhood”, and Photographs are still for sale!!


Thank you ATLANTA for making the inaugural FIDF Gala Dinner IDentiFy 2010 a rousing success!

Atlanta raised more money for the Soldiers of the IDF at its first dinner than all of last year!
Read More




In May, FIDF Ensemble performed at Shabbat Services for Or Hadash.

An Ensemble performance is like none other – signing, dancing, motivating, captivating and emotionally impactful! Just ask ANYONE who has ever seen a performance. The 10 person Ensemble performed Jerusalem at Shabbat Services and there was not a dry eye to be found – including the Ensemble. When the audience began to sing and cry, the Ensemble succumbed to the emotional impulse. Dinner for 150, including the Ensemble, was a bonus for the night



In January, the Atlanta Chapter Hosted the film Yes, Miss Commander! with a Q&A session at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival including 2 Soldiers, one of which was in the film!

The Atlanta Chapter of the FIDF was proud to partner with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.  This year, the FIDF sponsored two films, the feature film Ultimatum and the documentary Yes, Miss Commander!  For Yes, Miss Commander!, two female officers came to facilitate Q&A after the screening.  One officer was from Intelligence and the other was one of the Commanders featured in the film.  The entire audience was glued to their seat after the screening and the ushers had to evict the audience because the questions did not stop even though the next movie was coming up!


December 2009, the Atlanta Chapter thanks Cathy Kuranoff-Selig, Vicki Benjamin and Jennifer Malkin for kicking-off our Chapter’s activities with our largest parlor meeting to date, 140 people.

This event set the stage for our Young Leadership Program and our Gala Dinner. We cannot thank you enough for your time, donations and house.



Atlanta Chapter Board of Directors


Howard Wexler, Chairman Arthur M. Kurtz
Robert Arotsky Chaz Y. Lazarian
Danny Bacher Eti S. Lazarian
Josh Bank, Young Leadership Chair Ron Manoah
Deborah Bettsak Sara Manoah
Sherry Z. Frank Ron Porat
Sheldon E. Friedman Jason Smith
Theron Fritz Garry Sobel
Keith M. Greenwald Andrew J. Suss
Mark O. Hackner Itai Tsur
Hadara Ishak Danny Topper
Jay Kaiman Todd A. Warshaw

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(212) 244-3118 | fidf@fidf.org

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.
Contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.