Stevie Wonder is set to perform at the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces annual gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles on December 6. Wonder is scheduled to headline the event, which raises millions of dollars annually to support the Israeli Defense Forces. The event is the largest held yearly in support of the IDF across the world.
The event is set to be hosted by Cheryl and Haim Saban and will be attended by more than 1,000 members of the Los Angeles Jewish community.
Over the years, many of the world’s top artists have performed at the event. Last year, the gala was headlined by famed singer Barbara Streisand. Two years ago it was headlined by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Haim Saban said of the event in a statement:
“The annual FIDF Western Region Gala has become a tradition and a must-attend event for the Los Angeles Jewish community. The event connects the warm community to the IDF’s soldiers, and this is our opportunity to thank the soldiers who defend the State.”
The guests of honor at the gala will include Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces National Director Major-General Yitzhak ‘Jerry’ Gershon, Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces Chairman Nily Falic, Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces National President Julian Josephson, Israeli-American businessman and leader of the Los Angeles Jewish community Eli Tene, and many others.
Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces is a non-profit organization which has been operating in the United States for 31 years. It was founded by a group of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the US to provide for the well-being of the men and women who serve in the Israeli Defense Forces as well as the families of fallen soldiers.
The Israeli Defense Forces have recently been called to action to defend the State of Israel against the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip in what became known as Operation Pillar of Defense . The operation was launched after Israel came under constant and deadly rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.