NEW YORK, N.Y. – Peter Weintraub, a longtime leader in the New York Jewish and business communities and a national board member of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), has been named national president of FIDF.

Weintraub, 64, of Scarsdale, N.Y., was elected to the national leadership position after being active in FIDF for more than 13 years. This past March, he chaired the 2015 FIDF National New York Gala Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, which raised over $24 million for the educational, cultural, recreational and social needs of the IDF soldiers.

“Peter and his family have been an important part of FIDF for over 13 years. He has been a pillar of strength, a leader of FIDF’s spirit and its mission on behalf of Israel’s brave soldiers,” said FIDF National Director and CEO, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir. “I am delighted that Peter accepted the role of FIDF’s national president and am confident that FIDF will flourish under his leadership. His deep love, commitment, and generosity for the State of Israel and its soldiers serve as a promise for his success as national president and the success of FIDF for many years to come. May he go from strength to strength.”

One of Weintraub’s first FIDF projects was to help build recreational facilities at an IDF base in Israel, which today bears the names of his late parents. He has also sponsored more than 70 IDF soldiers over the years with university tuition assistance, through the FIDF IMPACT! scholarship program. At one point, Weintraub opened a factory in the southern city of Sderot, which has endured Hamas rocket attacks for years, and helped employ women who are victims of domestic violence. When the factory closed, Weintraub used proceeds to support FIDF.

“The brave and dedicated young men and women of the IDF give everything they have to protect their country as well as the wellbeing and security of Jews throughout the world,” said Weintraub. “We at FIDF take seriously the Jewish mandate: kol yisrael arevim zeh l’zeh, that all of us – keepers of the Jewish flame – are responsible for each other. I hope to build up on the already enormous support FIDF provides and encourage many more to become part of the mission: Their job is to look after Israel. Ours is to look after them.”

CAP: At the 2015 FIDF National NY Gala Dinner: (l to r) FIDF National Chairman Arthur Stark; FIDF National President Peter Weintraub; FIDF National Chairman Emeritus Nily Falic; and FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir. Photo Credit: Shahar Azran.