JNF-USA Breakfast for Israel: Fauda Style

Stars of the binge-worthy Israeli Netflix hit series Fauda will be joining Jewish National Fund-USA, the Orlando community and thousands of supporters across the country for the organization's annual Breakfast for Israel on April 18 at 10:30 a.m. While participants may have to BTOB (bring their own bagel) to this year's virtual "breakfast," JNF-USA promises to deliver the same high-quality, star-studded complimentary event that community members have become accustomed to since the first annual Breakfast for Israel dazzled event goers in 2003.

"JNF-USA's Breakfast for Israel is sure to be a much-looked-forward-to event on the communal calendar," said Nina Oppenheim, JNF-USA Orlando Breakfast for Israel co-chair and member of JNF-USA's Orlando Board of Directors. "This year, we're hosting a vibrant celebration in honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut as we bring our community together to ensure a bright, prosperous future for the land and people of Israel and Jewish people everywhere."

"We're thrilled to be able to host this event in the Orlando community and look forward to hosting it in-person again in the coming years when life returns to normal after the pandemic," added Jim Riola, JNF-USA's national Breakfast for Israel co-chair and member, JNF-USA Orlando Board of Directors.

According to The Wrap News Inc., "Despite the language barrier, Fauda (chaos in Arabic), somehow managed to break out of the dark corners of Netflix's foreign-language section and get noticed by both Hollywood heavy-hitters and New York Times TV critics." Guests who attend JNF-USA's 2021 Breakfast for Israel will hear from Fauda celebs, Tsahi Halevi who plays Naor and Rona-Lee Shimon who plays Nurit, live in studio - with Yoav Limor, a veteran military correspondent who has been covering the Middle East conflict for the last 33 years, moderating the interview and Q&A session. Today, Limor is the host of a morning show on Israel's Channel 2 Keshet, a defense commentator for Israel Hayom daily newspaper, and a regular contributor on i24 News.

"Whether in-person or virtually, JNF-USA has seen attendance at Breakfast for Israel events across the country skyrocket year after year, as hundreds of supporters from coast to coast come together to support the land and people of Israel," said Meril Salzburg, president of JNF-USA's Orlando's Board of Directors. "This year, we're expecting record high participation in Orlando and beyond. After all, who doesn't love Fauda?"

In addition to her career as an actress, Shimon is a trained ballet dancer who studied at the National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam. She also has extensive experience in Israeli theater, having performed the roles of Velma Kelly in Chicago, Anita in West Side Story, and Sally Bowles in Cabaret. In addition to his role in Fauda, Halevi also starred in the drama film "Bethlehem," which won an Ophir (Israeli Oscar) for Best Picture and he reached the finals in the first season of "The Voice Israel."

This event is free. Register at jnf.org/bfiorlando. For more information, contact Uri Smajovits, executive director, Major Gifts, Northern Florida at 727-536-5263, ext. 890 or usmajovits@jnf.org.