In the News
Israel at War: IAJF Person on the Ground
Lin Meir-Drori has been a professional fundraiser and an event planner for close to 30 years. In 1995, after completing her military service as an Assistant to the Head of IDF Personnel Division, she came to NY to develop Friends of the IDF (FIDF). During her 8-year tenure, she served as FIDF Eastern Regional Director and National Liaison, and completed her BS in Marketing and MBA in management.
Since 2003, Lin has owned a consulting, management, PR, and event planning company and worked closely with many charities. Eleven years ago Lin, a mother to 2 boys (11 and 15 years old), returned to Israel to be close to her family, and continues her work as a liaison between Israel and the U.S.
For the past 21 years, Lin has represented Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York (IAJF-NY). "IAJF-NY is not just a charity for me, it’s a HOME. Once I joined the dedicated leadership of IAJF, I never left. As the organization grew, so did my involvement and I became fully committed to IAJF. I am privileged to be part of a Zionist warm community that has improved thousands of lives of all ages and background, strengthened communities, and stood strong and united."
Since October 7th, Lin has worked tirelessly as IAJF’s person on the ground for emergency funds distribution. Her daily communication with organizations, community leaders, volunteers, and political and military contacts has enabled IAJF to monitor urgent needs in real time and to properly evaluate the requests for assistance that have poured in. Lin used all her years of professional experience to cut through much of the chaos created by the attacks, such as displaced communities and overburdened systems, by coordinating between different groups, creating new partnerships, and prioritizing needs.
“The world changed since October 7th,” Lin explained. “Israelis and Jews alike are facing trauma, hostility, and rising antisemitism. Our goal is not just to help one community or an individual battalion, but to support and strengthen all of Israel and to facilitate a quick and complete recovery. We want to ensure that we are providing the maximum assistance in the most efficient way possible.”
IAJF-LA collaborated with IAJF-NY to raise immediate emergency funds. In the first two months of the war over $4 million was distributed, including $620,000 by IAJF-LA, to support IDF soldiers, high-risk areas, bereaved and hostage families, refugees, survivors of the Nova festival, those injured physically and emotionally, hospitals, first responders, and more.
Lin said "Unfortunately, we are still in the midst of a long war and it’s important that now, more than ever, we will remain resilient, cope with a country in trauma, support the victims, bring security to our people, and later rebuild Israel.“
After 5 months of complicated and exhausting war in Gaza, IAJF-LA and IAJF-NY are sponsoring weeklong retreats for IDF battalions, allowing hundreds of heroes to recharge, recover and remember our love, while they risk their lives to defend the Jewish nation.
As Lin concluded: "The strength of Israel and Jews worldwide is our people and our unity – IAJF-NY and IAJF-LA set an example for the power of togetherness in these challenging days. I am personally grateful to be part of IAJF and the Iranian Jewish Community in the USA who kept me hopeful, productive, and optimistic. You are my light in the darkness. Please continue to act for the greater good and remember - Our hearts were broken, but our spirit is stronger than ever.
Am Israel Chai BIG TIME!
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This article appeared in the IAJF-LA Newsletter (#49: March 28, 2024)