FIDF Live

FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes back Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President of Research for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), to discuss the current state of Israel’s multi-front war. Schanzer explains that we are at somewhat of a yellow light in the war, with activity quieting down in Lebanon and Syria. We have also seen a drop-off in Jihadist activity in Judea and Samaria, but increased activity out of Yemen. Jonathan projects how Israel intends to move forward on the various fronts.

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FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes author, social activist and former FIDF spokesperson for the foreign press in the Unit for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Alon Penzel to discuss the atrocities of October 7th, and the world’s denial of these atrocities. Alone discusses his imperative work of documenting and scientifically and empirically proving the atrocities that occurred, and has done everything he can to ensure the international community understands what happened that day. 

WARNING: Some of the content on this briefing may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. 

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FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes back Rocket Scientist Ari Sacher to help us understand the current threat of missiles fired into Israel by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Ari explains that the Houthis are an Iranian proxy, and so they have access to state of the art technology provided to them by Iran, including advanced long range missiles and firing systems. Israel has successfully taken out a vast majority of the missile barrages, using Israel’s Arrow-3 missile defense system. However, a missile did hit the ground on Ben Gurion Airport, but no major damage or casualties were incurred. Ari believes that the Houthis, residents of neaerly unlivable third world conditions, are an enemy with nothing to lose, and so no matter how we hit them, they will keep coming. The key is to cut the Houthis off from acquiring weapons from their sources. Ultimately, Ari believes that the only solution to the threat of the Houthis is a political one. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes Doron Spielman, Author of When the Stones Speak & Former VP, City of David, to discuss his experience running the excavations of City of David, and the significance of uncovering 3000 years of Jewish history. Doron served in the army and then went into high tech. He became infatuated by uncovering the truth of Israels ancient history after having an eye opening experience with an Arab woman, who believed in her bones that Israel had no right to exist and the claims of Jews being indigenous to the land were false. Doron left his job in high tech and fell into a position spearheading the digging operations in the City of David. Doron explains that uncovering physical living proof of the Jewish connection to the land of Israel is perhaps the most important battlefront, because many of Israel’s enemies truly believe that Jews have no connection to the land.

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes Dr. Lucian Tatsa-Laur,  former Head of the Mental Health Department in the Israel Defense Forces and current Head of the new Trauma Rehabilitation Center at Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital, to discuss his groundbreaking work in the field of PTSD and mental health treatment for combat soldiers. Dr. Laur described his experience on October 7th, learning about the attack while on the phone with a wife of one of his patients who was outside of the house fighting terrorists at the time. Dr. Laur explains how the trauma of October 7th erupted the IDF’s identity as a small but shrewd and near indestructible defense force, shifting their self-perception from competent to failure. Dr. Laur’s mission was to reverse this collective psychological blow, and the IDF officers, he recounts, were very welcoming and open to this type of work. So did the Israeli public, who were accustomed to wars taking place within the enemy’s borders, not within Israel’s borders. Given the collective trauma of Israel’s combat soldiers and citizenry, Dr. Laur’s research is highly sought out by the US defense department. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes Rabbi Stewart Weiss, Director and Founder of the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra’anana, and father of IDF Sgt. Ari Weiss HY”D, to discuss Rabbi Weiss’ journey making Aliyah, and being the father of a fallen solider. Rabbi Weiss recounts his son Ari’s challenges trying to get into an elite anti-terrorist unit in the IDF, initially struggling but ultimately becoming an explosives expert and a sharpshooter. Ari, Rabbi Weiss explains, was in demand and was flown about into the field on many missions. Ari fell in battle in Nablus at the age of 21 on September 30, 2002. Rabbi Weiss took on the responsibility of comforting other parents of fallen soldiers, being open and honest about his battle dealing with the pain and challenges of the loss of a child entering the prime of his or her life.  Rabbi Weiss explains that one of the things that has strengthened him most is speaking with other families and experiencing their strength in the face of loss. While Rabbi Weiss misses his son dearly, he is proud of the sacrifice that his son, and all sons and daughters serving in the IDF, made for the safety of Israel’s citizenry.

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil tells the story of Passover and its lasting effects on human history as well as relevance in modern times.

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FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes Shai Bernstein, an American-Israeli IDF Reservist who just completed his third round of reserve duty, to discuss his experiences over the course over the last 365+ days going back and forth into the field of battle. Shai served as an officer and a captain and officer in Givati, beginning his active duty in 2003. Shai was living in Riverdale when October 7th broke out, having received reports in synagogue about what was happening. He immediately booked a ticket to return to Israel and join his unit. He arrived with his gear in the kibbutzim, and walked four miles with his unit into Gaza. Shai describes a mission during which his unit was hit by an RPG. Several of his comrades were wounded and killed, and another mission in which he was ambushed by RPGs. His friend Moshe Leiter discovered a tunnel shaft under a mosque, and was subsequently killed by a booby trap. Shai describes the immense survivor’s guilt he has been dealing with since his return from duty. He also explains how much he had previously underestimated the true face of evil and hatred that he experienced both in Israel and Gaza, but also in America, on college campuses and otherwise. He also underestimated the love and support that exists amongst the Jewish people, which was revealed following October 7th and the ensuring war. Shai also explains the sacrifice that the spouses of reservists must make, as well as the responsibility of maintaining a household despite the looming fear they live with. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nadav Padan to discuss the current situation in Gaza and the multi-front war. Nadav reminds us that Israel is still dealing with a 7-front war, despite the tremendous progress in each front since the war began on October 7th. In Gaza, there remains 59 hostages, and Hamas has begun to rebuild its ammunition and missile stores, as well as its terrorist operatives. The recent ceasefire contributed to Hamas’ rebuilding efforts significantly, and has culminated in recent rocket fire targeting dozens of cities in Israel. The IDF has made significant progress in breaking up the Houthi forces, who have been relentless in their rocket fire in recent weeks. The message the IDF is trying to send to the Houthis and Iran is, if you do not cooperate, you will be targeted heavily with potential devastating missile attacks and otherwise. Meanwhile, with soldiers needed on the Syrian, Lebanese and Gazan borders, there is a growing need for soldiers in Judea and Samaria, putting a great strain on the IDF and IDF reservists, and Israel’s economy. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes Yuval Baron, Son-in-Law of Keith and Aviva Siegel, to share his family’s unique story of survival. Yuval describes the feeling of welcoming back his mother Aviva, and later his father Keith, from Gaza as witnessing what is known in Judaism as “Techiat Hameitim,” the revival of the dead. Yuval then provides some details on the harrowing conditions under Hamas captivity, such as living underground in tight quarters, a lack of food and water, and being under constant psychological torture from their Hamas captors. Yuval is thrilled to have his family back, but, he explains, healing for Keith and Aviva cannot begin until the other hostages are back. Keith finds it difficult to understand why he is home but not the other hostages. With that being said, Keith is recovering well, and is receiving an outpouring of support from the country and the Israeli government. And Yuval has taken it upon himself to be an ambassador for his parents and the other hostages, using his voice to influence the current state of the hostages. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.