$31 million Raised at Annual FIDF Dinner
This year, the 9th annual Hollywood gala dinner raised a staggering $31 billion for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces. Attended by a vast array of celebrities, the event was chaired by Haim Saban and his wife, Cheryl.
The largest donation was received from IFCJ founder and president, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. He donated $8.4 million to the cause. The IFCJ — International Fellowship of Christians and Jews — also recently provided financial aid for victims of the latest wave of terror to hit Israel.
The gala has been growing steadily each year. As Saban pointed out, “for the past nine years I have watched this gala grow into the preeminent charity event it is today, and I am truly humbled by the funds raised, which are a testament to the importance of the FIDF organization and its mission. The overwhelming support from the Los Angeles community continues to amaze me.”
The night before, Saban hosted an event that celebrated Eckstein’s recent publication entitled ‘The Bridge Builder.’ A hundred people hailing from the business, entertainment and non-profit sectors attended the event. The book accounts Eckstein’s work through the IFCJ of fostering and developing positive relationships and understandings between Christian and Jews around the world — a cornerstone of the IFCJ.
