Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
500 Office Center Drive, Suite 400, Ft. Washington, PA 19034

Contact: Tzvia Wexler tzvia.wexler@fidf.org 267-513-1875

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors to provide for the wellbeing of the men and women who serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as well as the families of fallen soldiers. Headquartered in New York City, FIDF is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation that operates 14 regional offices in the United States and one office in Latin America.

The strength of the IDF, which has been guarding the State of Israel since it declared independence in 1948, derives from the selfless determination and great capabilities of the young men and women who form it. At the tender age of 18, all Israelis are drafted into the IDF. Those who serve commit to uphold the difficult tasks of defending Israel’s borders and guaranteeing the safety of its people.

The Israeli government is responsible for training IDF soldiers and providing them with the necessary tools for their service. FIDF is committed to providing these soldiers with love, support, and care in an effort to ease the burden they carry on behalf of the Jewish community worldwide.
Their job is to look after Israel. Ours is to look after them.
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces provide and support social, educational, cultural, and recreational programs and facilities for the young men and women soldiers of Israel who defend the Jewish homeland. It also offers these services to the families of fallen soldiers.

For your mitzvah project or community service project, dedicate a fundraiser such as a bake-sale, walk-a-thon or fashion show production to the brave soldiers of the IDF – or sell FIDF bracelets and pins – or hold a gathering at which your friends can meet an IDF soldier. B’nai Mitzvah students can select a Program that touches their heart and one that will benefit from their fundraising. Examples are the ‘Legacy’ program that ensures that a child whose parent or sibling has been killed in action, has a memorable Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and the ‘Dignity’ program that provides relief to Lone Soldiers and IDF soldiers in-need.