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Shallow Fog The Wolfs and lone soldiers honored at FIDF gala
Cyrus Wolf and his family from North Woodmere were the honorees at the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Five Towns and Greater South Shore ninth annual gala at the Sands in Atlantic Beach on Oct. 24.
The FIDF, established in 1981 by Holocaust survivors, is a not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to honor the brave men and women serving in the Israeli military. As the men and women put their lives at risk, the FIDF collects charitable donations to support the soldiers with educational programs.
Wolf was passionate about the Jewish state, according to his widow, Florence Wolf, who passed on her words to Lawrence resident Benjamin Brafman, who was the master of ceremonies for this year's gala. “His love for Israel started as a 17-year-old right before the Arab-Israeli war," he said.
Florence noted that Cyrus did everything in his power to raise money for the Middle Eastern country. "Cy Wolf raised $250,000 in one day when Israel needed the funds during the Yom Kippur War," Brafman said, speaking for Florence. "He locked the doors to the shul and told the people that they are not leaving until everyone gives a contribution."
The event highlighted the Wolf family, active soldiers, and a “Lone Soldier,” troops with no family in Israel to support them. “For the young men and women who serve, this night is how we show you that we care about you," Brafman said. “FDIF is the only organization authorized to raise money on behalf of IDF. We do everything we think could benefit the soldiers, particularly the lone soldiers.”
The FIDF supports these lone soldiers as they look after Israel. The soldier in attendance was Second Lt. Yosef, who moved to Israel at 14 after learning that, unfortunately, not everyone loves the Jewish community in Portland.
With no family in Israel, Yoself explained how the organization looks after the soldiers like him to the Five Towns community in attendance. “After living in Israel for four years, I had to decide whether or not to accept Israel citizenship," Yosef said. "The implications were either serve in the military and live in Israel for the rest of my life or move back to Portland and follow the traditional path to American youth. The answer was obvious.”
While serving in Israel, Yosef's sister was getting married in the United States. He was not in a place financially to pay for a trip to attend the wedding. The FIDF swooped in and was able to help Yosef attend his sister’s nuptials because, as the organization’s slogan states: “Their job is to look after Israel. Ours is to look after them.”
To learn more about the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces or donate, go to fidf.org.
