Their job? Look after Israel. Ours? Look after them

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is committed to providing the men and women who serve in the Israel Defense Forces — as well as the families of fallen soldiers — with love, support and care.

Now there’s a new local effort to support the organization. Lawrence resident Jay Spector is spearheading the drive to give it a presence in the Five Towns and the greater South Shore area. He sees the endeavor as a common denominator across the entire Jewish community.

Several Five Towners, including Dr. Rubin Brecher, began organizing parlor meetings that led to an ever-growing event committee and widespread Rabbinical support for launching the inaugural community dinner and tribute. It is scheduled for May 23 at The Sephardic Temple, with Ben Brafman as Master of Ceremonies.

“As someone deeply committed to the security of the State of Israel, it is very hard for me to even imagine a cause more worthy than supporting soldiers in the IDF who put their lives on the line each day.” said Brafman.

“Their job is to look after Israel. Ours is to Look After Them,” FIDF’s tagline, struck an emotional chord with Spector.

“Who can argue with that, it really says it all,” says Spector, who gets choked up from the words.

Inspired by his in-laws, the Lefkovits family, he and his wife, Malky, began attending the National FIDF gala at the Waldorf Astoria every year, most recently on March 13.

FIDF was founded 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.