One of the local community’s largest events, the gala celebrated 70 years of Israeli heroes and hope, and featured a keynote address from Uri Levine, an Israeli entrepreneur and co-founder of Waze, one of the world’s most popular GPS navigation applications.

Waze co-founder Uri Levine, who was the keynote speaker at the FIDF Westchester Annual Dinner.
Waze co-founder Uri Levine, who was the keynote speaker at the FIDF Westchester Annual Dinner.

The dinner, chaired by Mindy and Andy Feldman and FIDF National Board Member Wendy and Dan Moskowitz, also gave FIDF supporters the chance to celebrate – and meet – Israel’s brave men and women in uniform, and to learn about FIDF’s well-being and educational programs for IDF soldiers.

: (from left) Andy Feldman; FIDF Director of Westchester and Connecticut Anat Chavkin; Sgt. Sharon; Dan Moskowitz; FIDF National Board Member Wendy Moskowitz; Waze co-founder Uri Levine; Mindy Feldman; FIDF National Chairman Peter Weintraub; Ellen Weintraub; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; Sgt. Sahar.
: (from left) Andy Feldman; FIDF Director of Westchester and Connecticut Anat Chavkin; Sgt. Sharon; Dan Moskowitz; FIDF National Board Member Wendy Moskowitz; Waze co-founder Uri Levine; Mindy Feldman; FIDF National Chairman Peter Weintraub; Ellen Weintraub; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; Sgt. Sahar.

The evening’s program featured several Israeli soldiers, including Capt. Or, the first female soldier to command a Patriot Battery, and who recently employed an advanced air defense system to shoot down the Syrian airplane and drone that invaded Israeli airspace this past July; 2nd Lt. Noam, the Deputy Commander of the Front Medical Company who served as a paramedic during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, where she dealt with extreme injuries, and as part of Operation Good Neighbor to help Syrian refugees; Sgt. Maj. T., who serves in an elite Israeli Navy unit - one of the best special forces in the world; 1st Sgt. Sahar, a combat soldier in the elite Rimoni unit of Givati, who received a Chief of Staff award for singlehandedly protecting his team against five heavily armed terrorists; and Capt. Y., an Israeli Air Force pilot.

(from left) Event co-chairs Dan Moskowitz; FIDF National Board Member Wendy Moskowitz; Mindy Feldman; and Andy Feldman.
(from left) Event co-chairs Dan Moskowitz; FIDF National Board Member Wendy Moskowitz; Mindy Feldman; and Andy Feldman.

“This year’s Westchester gala was an opportunity for our local community to celebrate 70 years of Israel and its soldiers, and to hear firsthand from IDF soldiers who directly benefit from FIDF’s programs,” said Wendy Moskowitz. “We were honored to host Waze co-founder Uri Levine, a leading Israeli entrepreneur. And, most importantly, our hundreds of passionate supporters saluted the courageous men and women who risk everything to defend Israel – and Jews worldwide.”

The FIDF Westchester Annual Dinner, held at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, raised funds for well-being and educational programs for IDF soldiers.

Other distinguished guests in attendance included Hyla and Steve Ruby; Shari and Aram Rubinson; Jill and Ami Goldfein; FIDF National Board Member Marc Jason and his wife, Dana; FIDF National Chairman Peter Weintraub and his wife, Ellen; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; Brig. Gen. (Res.) Gila Klifi-Amir; FIDF Tri-State Executive Director Galit Brichta; and FIDF Westchester and Connecticut Director Anat Chavkin.