FIDF’s Night of Emotion and Empowerment

Approximately 600 friends and supporters of the Israel Defense Forces gathered on Dec. 4 at City Springs to show solidarity for soldiers risking their lives to restore security and peace to Israel following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was guest speaker at the event, which also honored Sgt. Rose Lubin z”l, a fallen Lone Soldier from Dunwoody who was murdered in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem on Nov. 6. Her mother, Robin Lubin; father, David Lubin; stepmom, Stephanie Lubin; and siblings, Alec, Joseph, Lily, and Isaac were present.

Karen Shulman (right) welcomes new FIDF board members (from left) Wendi Aspes and Samantha Schoenbaum.

Sivan Sisay, a former Lone Soldier from Ethiopia, recognized the Lubin family and told of her own personal journey — tragedy upon tragedy — for her to arrive now as a journalist before serving in communications in the IDF. At 13, she was left on her own after her father went to prison for killing her mother, and her brother committed suicide. Early on in her job as a press attaché for the IDF, she met Atlantan Garry Sobel, FIDF national board member, who reached out to her with assurance and kindness “as family.”

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Vice President, FIDF Georgia and Southeast States, Seth Baron was emotional when he reminisced about his own motivation relating back to the massacre of Israelis in the Munich Olympics, and his father’s explanation. “You don’t necessarily have to wear your Judaism on your sleeve, but there are times when we have to stand up and be counted!’ Oct. 7 was our Kristallnacht … we have to root out blood thirsty terrorists … there is no context or excuse for the murders, raping, etc. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, the murder of Rose Lubin.”

(Left) Nathan Lubin, grandfather of Rose Lubin, was on a Rotary mission en route to Mongolia when he heard of Rose’s death and headed back though Hong Kong and San Francisco to attend the funeral. Lubin is pictured with Steve Oppenheimer.

Baron, who flew to Israel for Lubin’s funeral, recounted that she was recently featured in the May 2023 FIDF event. He concluded, “We will not let our country or birthright down. We will not be driven into the sea!”

Karen Shulman, Chair FIDF Georgia and Southeast States, expressed her panic beginning Oct. 7. She shared a video memorial of Israel’s fallen soldiers featuring Rose, who chose to serve in the Magav border patrol usually composed of men.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul chats with Steven Candranel. During the formal program, Paul received the largest applause of appreciation based on his support of Jewish causes and his relationship with Israel.

“Although she perished on Nov. 6 at her post in the Old City, days before she would not stay in a ‘safe house’ and chose to root out terrorists. Rose was a lioness with humility and decided at a young age that, at age 18, Israel would be her home.”

The full screen videos of Lubin at the podium just months before were riveting.

Sobel recounted his recent visit with Rose in Israel where they exchanged “hi fives,” and said, “Rose is buried on Mt. Hertzl with other legends and heroes and died living her dream.”

He also talked of his shock of hearing about the Yom Kippur War as a child, which informs him now of what is at stake and where his leadership in FIDF has the greatest meaning. Sobel, who is in constant contact with Israel’s minister of defense, spoke of supplying plasma resources, new field hospitals, DNA analysis technology, hygiene kits, and over $26 million in medical supplies. He added,

This group of shinshinim will go to the IDF after serving a year abroad as volunteers in Atlanta.

“These needs will continue long after the war ends … think of PTSD — these soldiers have negotiated tunnel systems more complex than in the New York City subway. We are Zionists. We must stand as One!”

Native Atlanta George Birnbaum, who consulted on elections for previous prime ministers, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Bennett, quoted “Brigade” by Harold Blum, and explained how Holocaust survivors related to IDF solders as “angels” as a segue into introducing Bennett, who had spent time that day with the Lubin family. He recalled that Bennett asked him, “If Israel was ready for a PM who wears a kippah.”

Garry Sobel is known for decades of devoted service to FIDF // Photo Credit: Jon Marks

Bennett spoke of answering Hineni as a motivation for Moses to lead and Rose’s part in a chain of Sarah, Miriam, Devorah, Esther, and a more recent paratrooper who lost her life during World War II. He urged the Lubin family to write a book. He personally had to be held back by Shin Bet from going to the frontlines to fight post-Oct 7. He still goes to combat areas to assess soldiers’ needs.

Bennett was critical of the delayed response on Oct. 7. He said, “There was no need to take hours to load tanks … Go, go, go! Forget the food … it was so frustrating.”

On a more positive note, Bennett has confidence in the current generation of heroism. He said, “Don’t mistakenly think that this new generation is too soft.”

He told of soldiers, even reservists, with only pistols, going house to house, back and forth, to save lives and sacrifice their own.

Ethiopian-born Sivan Sisay told of her own hardships as a child in Israel. Now, she is a journalist and came up through the IDF ranks as a press attaché // Photo Credit: Jon Marks

He said, “Israel, still the best nation on Earth, took this hit, maybe we had it coming. And it’s time to wake up. We are not going to change opinions with social media. We don’t want pity. Like Rose, be strong and stand up to friends trashing Israel. We will win. We have to win!”

He closed by noting that he surveyed soldiers in Gaza on their needs: “That Jews stay united, and we finish the job” was the answer.

Of note, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered several hundred feet away from the Byers Theatre/City Springs entrance, but their perceived impact to the event was minimal.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event, and donations to FIDF since Oct. 7 will go towards the emergency humanitarian needs of IDF soldiers. So far, more than $49 million has been transferred to the IDF to meet their requests.