PHILANTHROPISTS DR. JEFFREY AND BARBARA FEINGOLD DEDICATE A NEW SYNAGOGUE AND SEFER TORAH FOR ISRAELI SOLDIERS

MISHMAR HANEGEV, Israel, August 29 – The soldiers of the Amirim Battalion at Mishmar HaNegev, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) base in southern Israel, can now pray and celebrate the upcoming High Holidays in a new synagogue, complete with a Sefer Torah scroll, and beautiful outdoor garden, thanks to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supporters Dr. Jeffrey and Barbara Feingold of Delray Beach, Florida.

In June, the Feingold family attended the dedication ceremony in Israel, which honored and thanked them for the transformational gift that made the Feingold Family Synagogue and the Sefer Torah possible. It is the first synagogue on an army base in the Negev. Soldiers of the Amirim Battalion, a national communications battalion from the General Staff of the IDF, have been enjoying their new synagogue and garden all summer, and this will be the first holiday celebrating the Jewish New Year.

“We are so proud that we could bring the dream of this synagogue to reality at such an opportune time for the soldiers of the Amirim Battalion, allowing them to enjoy it throughout the upcoming holiday season. It has been our honor to give back to our beloved country Israel on its 70^th anniversary year for our soldiers that protect and serve the Jewish state. We hope that the new Feingold Family Synagogue and Sefer Torah bring years of joy to the soldiers and enrich their lives as they perform their vital duties at the Mishmar HaNegev base,” said Barbara Feingold.

Dr. Jeffrey Feingold added, “without the IDF and the Jewish state of Israel we would have no home. As a Zionist and a Jew, it has always been important for my wife and myself that the bond between the United States and Israel remain strong. This new synagogue will ensure that this vital belief of the Feingold Family will live on forever.”

Accompanying Dr. Jeffrey and Barbara Feingold at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were the Feingolds’ children, grandchildren, and close friends, as well as FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir, FIDF Executive Director in Israel Brig. Gen. (Res.) Effi Idan, Chief Military Rabbi Brig. Gen. Eyal Crimm, Commander of the Amirim Battalion Lt. Col. Dedi Elimelech, and Commander of the Hoshen Unit Col. Shai Solomon.

“The true greatness and strength of an army are beyond any technological and physical capabilities. Most important are the ethics, spirit, and morality of the soldiers standing behind the technology. The beautiful synagogue and Torah scroll generously donated by Dr. Jeffrey and Barbara Feingold deepen the soldiers’ connection to their roots and heritage, reinforce what they are fighting for, and nourish their souls,” said Klifi-Amir. “I cannot stress enough the importance of the Feingold family’s support, and how, despite living thousands of miles away, they make it their priority to boost the morale of Israel’s brave men and women in uniform.”

FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission of offering educational, cultural, recreational, and social programs and facilities that provide hope, purpose, and life-changing support for the soldiers who protect Israel and Jews worldwide. Today, FIDF has more than 150,000 loyal supporters, and 20 chapters throughout the United States and Panama. FIDF proudly supports IDF soldiers, families of fallen soldiers, and wounded veterans through a variety of innovative programs that reinforce the vital bond between the communities in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the state of Israel. For more information, please visit: www.fidf.org.