Illinois Chapter
About the Illinois Chapter
The Illinois Chapter was founded in 1981. Based in Chicago, we represent the larger Midwest community. Our leadership is nearly 70-strong, made up of a committed and engaged Board of Directors who oversee the year-round activities for our 2,500 members in support of the young men and women of the FIDF.
We host a wide range of events, including Bourbon & BBQ, Women’s Brigade Annual Benefit, Yom Ha’atzmaut and the Paratroopers Delegation community celebrations, as well as missions to Israel. Our Annual Dinner attracts over 800 people and raises more than $2MM. Our chapter is also proud to have a very active Young Leadership group.
The Illinois Chapter has undertaken several capital projects for IDF soldiers to enjoy, including the Herrendorf Family Sports Center at the Meishar Base, Sklare Sports Center at the Haifa Naval Training Base, the Polak Sports and Recreation Center at the Shraga Base, the Zweig Auditorium and Garden on Tel Nof Base, and many more. The Ramat Gan Lone Soldier Home provides apartments for those serving away from their families, while the Silverman Family and Lori Komisar Clinic provides medical care for the thousands of soldiers who serve on the Nevatim Air Force Base.
We are also avid supporters of IMPACT! scholarships. Our Region alone funds more than 20% of the over 4,000 IMPACT! students. In addition, our community has adopted the Paratrooper Brigade.
upcoming events
Check back soon for more of our upcoming events!
CONTACT THIS CHAPTER
Contact this chapter to learn how you can get involved with FIDF locally.
Executive Board Members
Robert Polak, Chairman |
Thomas Kane, President |
Rob Selati, Immediate Past Chairman |
Board Members
Alex Behar | Al Brody | Paul Been | Douglas Cohen |
Orley Desser | Sig Feiger | Thomas Field | Michael Fox |
Albert Frank | Michael Gallant | David Heller | Larry Hochberg |
Daniel J. Hyman | Brandon Levitan | Hezi Levy | Israel Levy |
Richard Levy | Jonathan Markowitz | Jorde Nathan | Louis Paster |
Edward Schwartz | John Shear | Ronald Sirt | Arie Zweig |
Advisory Committee
Nancy Babendir | Michael Balkin | Craig Bernfield | Michael Fishman |
Steven Goldish | Andrew Goodman | Robert Harris | Adam Hoeflich |
David Israel | Larry Kugler | Dennis Lapidus | Benjamin Leshem |
Mark Levine | Annette Lidawer | Leslie Richman | Saul Rudo |
Maurice Sanderman | Cary Schiff | Gregg Schneider | Mark Schneider |
Richard Sheiner | Richard Sincere | Danny Stern | Gerald Weiner |
Joseph Wolf |
Young Leadership
Cody Weiss – Co-Chair | Nate Wellek – Co-Chair | Reeven Nathan | Jeremy Weinstock |
Lilli Appelman | Jack Goldberger | Jordan Schwartz | |
Daphne Beraznik | Jack Grossman | Brooke Sterling | |
Donny Fineberg | Alex Kirshenbaum | Sarah Unterhalter |