2026-06-20 02:36:PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #Israel ![[image-293.png|559x314]] # American Friends of Israeli Navy SEALs (AFINS) - American Friends of Israeli Navy SEALs is a U.S-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to "advise and support the Atalef Foundation in its mission of strengthening the core foundations of Israeli society through assisting soldiers and graduates of [[Shayetet 13]], Israel’s Navy SEALs.[^1] - AFINS' stated vision: "To establish and strengthen the connection between US Jewry and the State of Israel through personal interactions with the Israel Navy SEALs both in the US and Israel."[^1] - AFINS was founded in New York in 2006.[^2] - AFINS [describes](https://www.afins.us/nextgenboard#:~:text=being%20able%20to-,directly%20support,-Israel%E2%80%99s%20courageous%20solders) itself as the vehicle for American Jews to "directly support Israel’s courageous solders who sacrifice their lives for the safety of Jewish people around the world."[^3] > [!NOTE] Page Note > Although many, including AFINS, refer to them as "Israeli Navy SEALs," I usually choose to use the actual unit name Shayetet 13 (Hebrew for Flotilla-13) throughout this page. #### Activities - AFINS operates as the American support organization for Israel's Atalef Foundation.[^10] - The Atalef Foundation is an Israeli NGO founded in 1984 that describes itself as "a foundation of Shayetet-13 (Israel’s Elite Navy Seal) veterans whose mission is to maintain an active and supportive community of veterans and to help its members integrate, lead and contribute to Israeli society in the spirit of the values of the Shayetet-13."[^11] - AFINS lists the "unique needs" of [[Shayetet 13]]:[^10] - Increased Israeli government benefits and services for [[Shayetet 13]] veterans facing PTSD, and other complications of their service. - Increased government support for Shayetet 13 veterans returning to civilian life. - A more streamlined process for Shayetet 13 members, because of their elite capabilities, to find positions of influence in civilian life "for the benefit of themselves, Israeli society and the global Jewish community." - AFINS published and republished information regarding its activities and the activities of [[Shayetet 13]] during the [[Gaza War]] on a page called "Wartime Report."[^13] - The Wartime Report states: "The day war came to Israel on [[October 7th]], we began meeting the most immediate needs of Shayetet 13." - AFINS claims that it helped Shayetet 13 meet "critical infrastructure needs" in the immediate aftermath of [[October 7th]] when thousands of the unit's reservists reported for duty. - The War Report celebrates Shayetet 13 operations like the 2024 siege and raids at Al-Shifa hospital, in which the Israelis killed hundreds of Palestinians including over 20 patients at Gaza's largest hospital.[^16] ![[image-295.png|860|633x356]] *Aftermath of the IDF's destruction at Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital, April 1, 2024.*[^17] #### Funding and Donors - AFINS reported $11.7 million in revenue in 2023 and $5.77 million in 2024.[^14] - These figures represent a massive increase from the organization's average of $1-2 million prior to [[October 7th]] 2023. ![[image-294.png]] *AFINS' revenue graph as presented on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer*[^14] - According to AFINS' website, their financial overhead is covered by the AFINS board and National Leadership Council, therefore 100% of other contributions go directly to "programs for Israel Navy SEALs and unit support personnel, their families and all those we reach through SEAL volunteerism."[^10] - AFINS hosts a number of "evenings of tribute" each year, which serve both to honor members of Israel's Shayetet 13 and to raise funds.[^12] - AFINS donors (not including board and council members) include: - [[Jewish Communal Fund]] - $625,830 from 2019-2025. - [[UJA-Federation of New York]] - $150,000 in 2024.[^15] #### Notable Figures - AFINS board of directors includes:[^4] - Doron Kessel - Vice chair of the board - Kessel is a former officer in [[Shayetet 13]] (Israel's elite naval commando unit similar to the American Navy SEALs) and "has also worked in the Israeli Secret Service." - Kessel now works at a real estate investment and management firm in New York City. - Rick Farber - Farber served as Senior Advisor in Domestic Finance at the U.S. Treasury Department from 2018-2019. - Farber was formerly vice president of [[Lehman Brothers]] commodity risk management group. - Farber is an advisory board member of the Fink Center for Finance at UCLA's Anderson School of Management.[^6] - The Fink Center is named after its principle benefactor and chairman, [[BlackRock]] CEO [[Larry Fink]]. [^6] - According to his AFINS bio, Farber joined AFINS "as part of his unconditional support" for Israeli soldiers. - Arad Levertov - Levertov a Former Major in [[Shayetet 13]] (Israeli Navy SEALs). - Levertov is the founder and CEO of a U.S.-based fintech company called Sunbit. - Sunbit's leadership is largely comprised of Israelis including Tamir Hazan, the head of machine learning data lab at the [[Technion]], and multiple Israeli military officials.[^7] - Gustave K. Lipman - Lipman was formerly COO of Guardsmark, "the fifth-largest security services company in North America." - According to his AFINS bio, Lipman is "a longstanding supporter of the [[Shayetet 13]] community." - Lipman is a member of the [[Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)]]. - Michael Olshan - Olshan is a member of the executive committee of the [[UJA-Federation of New York]]. - Alan Schall - Schall is described as an AFINS "founding board member."[^8] - According to his AFINS bio, Schall is "deeply committed to all things Israel," and "one of his only regrets is not having served in the Israel Defense Forces so he now does whatever he can to support them." - Schall is the "Signature Society Chair and a board member of [[Israel Bonds]]."[^8] - Schall and his wife are described as "supporters of Yad Vashem and the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]] of Greater MetroWest."[^8] *Yad Vashem is Israel's holocaust museum and institution similar to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in the United States.* - AFINS next-generation board of directors includes:[^3] - Aaron Anderson - Miami co-chair of the next-gen board. - According to his AFINS bio, "He believes the warriors of Shayetet 13 exemplify the very best of our people in the fight to defend Western civilization." *Our people? Anderson is an American living and working in Florida who, because he is Jewish, feels a deep connection to the military of a foreign country for their representation of 'his people.'* - Jordan G. Cohen - NYC co-chair of the next-gen board. - According to his AFINS bio, Cohen is an investment professional at [[Blackstone]]. - His bio also states: "As a proud Jew, he feels a responsibility to support the Israel Navy SEALS and their heroic efforts to safeguard the land and people of Israel and the global Jewish community." - Jeremy Cohen - Los Angeles co-chair of the next-gen board. - According to his AFINS bio, "comes from a deeply Zionist family and has spent meaningful time in Israel throughout his life, so supporting the Israel Navy SEAL community felt both personal and purposeful." - Eli Moyal - NYC co-chair of the next-gen board. - Moyal is a former Israeli Navy SEAL ([[Shayetet 13]]). - Daniel Axelrod - According to his AFINS bio, Axelrod "has always been a staunch Zionist and has visited Israel six times, three of which were to volunteer through Sar-El, which is a program that enables volunteers to be placed on an IDF base anywhere in the country and work and live alongside soldiers to assist them in any way possible." - Ryan Finvarb - Finvarb is an associate in [[Blackstone]] real estate debt strategies on the private investment team. - As stated in his AFINS bio, "Ryan is deeply passionate about Israel and in the wake of [[October 7th]] and the [[Gaza War|ensuing war]], he felt a responsibility to give back by supporting the Israeli Navy SEALS who risk their lives every day to defend the home of the Jewish People, the State of Israel." - Wesley Friedman - Former principle at [[Joe Lonsdale]]'s venture capital firm 8VC. - David Israel - According to his AFINS bio, "Having grown up in France, David developed an early appreciation for the essential interdependence between Israel and Jewish communities in the diaspora. This perspective led him to join AFINS, as he views Shayetet 13 as one of the critical pillars in safeguarding Israel’s security." *This quote proves the thesis of this project. A man in France (now the US) is loyal to the military of a foreign state because he is Jewish—and that's the only reason. How does a nation retain sovereignty with a powerful contingent of these people? It doesn't.* - Harrison Mack - Mack is a "member of the [[UJA-Federation of New York]]'s REX Next Committee." - Mack is "proud to support [[Shayetet 13]] and the critical role its warriors play in defending the Jewish state and the implicit freedom of Jewry around the world." - Omer Rabin - Rabin, now working in the AI field in the United States, "served in [[Shayetet 13]] as a Deputy Officer in the unit’s training course." - Lior Zamir - As stated in his AFINS bio, "He is a strong supporter of Israel, and with a cousin serving in Shayetet 13, he is honored to support AFINS and the Israel Navy SEAL community." - Andrew Zuckerman - Zuckerman's "connection to Israel is deeply personal, and he has family and close friends who have served in the IDF." - AFINS national leadership council includes:[^5] - Lorna Auerbach - Auerbach "spent a year in Israel in her 20's as a volunteer teacher in Beit Shemesh from 1969-1970. She participated in a young leadership mission to Israel sponsored by [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|JFEDLA]] in her 30's and continued to be active in the Real Estate and Construction Division of JFEDLA." - Rebecca Keren Eisenstadt-Jablonski - Eisenstadt-Jablonski is an "on-demand rabbi" in New York City. - Alan Friedman - Friedman "believes that in order for Israel to continue to flourish and to offer a homeland to Jews everywhere, it must be able to defend itself, and that the Israel Navy SEALs provide Israel with the capability to respond to threats beyond its own borders in a convincing and efficient manner." - Lisa Kantor - As described in her AFINS bio, Kantor's desire to help others, and her Jewish heritage, drove her to "become more active with charitable Jewish groups.  Ultimately, she has worked tirelessly in service to Israel at large, now directly with the [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]], and the AFINS community." - Lior Ofir - Ofir is a former Israeli Navy SEAL ([[Shayetet 13]]).[^9] - Ofir now lives and works in Florida. - Ofir spent four years working for the Israeli Ministry of Defense while attaining law and business degrees from IDC Herzliya (Reichman University).[^9] - Ofir is the COO of the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]]. - Ofir has also worked with [[Birthright Israel]], [[StandWithUs (SWU)]], "and many other organizations on the topics of Israel and Leadership."\ - Charles Ribakoff - According to his AFINS bio, "Charles believes that, without a strong Israel, it will not be possible to have a secure Jewish life anywhere else in the world.  As such, he has always felt that the warriors of Shayetet 13 are in-fact fighting for him, and that he has an obligation to help them if he can." #RedPill *Jewish loyalty to the Jewish state and world Jewry will always supersede national loyalty. Identity rules.* - Joshua Rinkov - According to his AFINS bio, "Josh was introduced to AFINS by his friend, an Israel Navy SEAL (Shayetet 13) and immediately wanted to get involved. For many years, Josh had held board seats at various Jewish organizations and he and his family have always been strong supporters of Israel." - Dan Rosenblatt - According to his AFINS bio, "Dan’s grandparents were Zionists from Scotland and Canada who settled in Palestine in the 1920’s and he is named in memory of a cousin who served in the [[Haganah|Palmach]] and was killed in [[1948 Arab Israeli War|1948]]." - Adam Rosenthal - According to his AFINS bio, "He is a zealous advocate for Israel, the Shayetet and the IDF." - Lee R. Selby - Selby is an American owner of a school bus company in New York. - As stated in his AFINS bio, "Lee and his family have deep roots in Israel and within the IDF veteran community." - Boris Shrayer - According to the AFINS bio of Shrayer, an American Jew, "Boris’ Holocaust-surviving grandparents had siblings in Israel who they could not see for many decades, being in the Soviet Union. Israel was always “our country” for Boris, and it is clear to him that we as Jews need a strong and prosperous Israel, that we as Jews ae fighting a global war." - Jeremy Stone - Before founding his own investment firm in South Florida, Stone was a partner and senior managing director at [[Sun Capital Partners]]. - Michael Teplitsky - Teplitsky was a refusenik; a Soviet Jew wishing to emigrate (usually to the US or Israel) in the mid-late 20th century. - Teplitsky is a board of governors member at the [[Jewish Agency]] and "has held key leadership roles" at the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]]. - According to his AFINS bio, "His commitment to AFINS and the warriors of Israel’s Navy SEALs (Shayetet 13) reflects his profound respect for their role in safeguarding Israel and the global Jewish community." - Marc Wolf - Wolf is involved in various Jewish organizations including, the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]], [[UJA-Federation of New York]], [[Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)]], [[Hillel International]], and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC). - Jonathan Wolfe - According to his AFINS bio, Wolfe "learned of AFINS from friends and grew his involvement after October 7th. Jonathan has family in Israel and views it as a sincere privilege to be involved with AFINS and the warriors of Israel’s Navy SEALs (Shayetet 13) as they play a vital role in ensuring the survival of Israel as the Jewish State and the home of Jewish people everywhere, who increasingly find themselves embattled in their home countries." #### References [^1]: American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS), “About,” [https://www.afins.us/about](https://www.afins.us/about). [^2]: “American Friends of Israeli,” _BizProfile_, [https://www.bizprofile.net/ny/great-neck/american-friends-of-israeli](https://www.bizprofile.net/ny/great-neck/american-friends-of-israeli). [^3]: American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS), “NextGen Board,” [https://www.afins.us/nextgenboard](https://www.afins.us/nextgenboard). [^4]: American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS), “Board,” [https://www.afins.us/board](https://www.afins.us/board). [^5]: American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS), “National Leadership Council,” [https://www.afins.us/nlc](https://www.afins.us/nlc). [^6]: UCLA Anderson School of Management, “Our Leadership,” _Fink Center for Finance_, [https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/about/centers/fink-center-for-finance/our-leadership](https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/about/centers/fink-center-for-finance/our-leadership). [^7]: Sunbit, “Leadership,” [https://sunbit.com/leadership/](https://sunbit.com/leadership/). [^8]: Golda Och Academy, “Mindy ’97 and Alan ’92 Schall Announced as Honorees for the 2023 Spring Gala,” April 27, 2023, [https://www.goldaochacademy.org/news-story?pk=1436823](https://www.goldaochacademy.org/news-story?pk=1436823&). [^9]: Lior ofir USA, “About,” [https://www.liorofirusa.com/about-1](https://www.liorofirusa.com/about-1). [^10]: American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS), “FAQ,” [https://www.afins.us/faq](https://www.afins.us/faq). [^11]: Atalef, “Home,” [https://atalef.com/en/home-2/](https://atalef.com/en/home-2/). [^12]: American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS), “Events,” [https://www.afins.us/events](https://www.afins.us/events). [^13]: American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs (AFINS), “Wartime Report,” [https://www.afins.us/wartimereport](https://www.afins.us/wartimereport). [^14]: “American Friends of Israel Navy Seals,” _Nonprofit Explorer_, ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205916414](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205916414). [^15]: United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, Inc., “Full Text of ‘Full Filing’ for Fiscal Year Ending June 2024,” _Nonprofit Explorer_, ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510172429/202511349349303781/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510172429/202511349349303781/full). [^16]: Dan Williams and Nidal Al-Mughrabi, “Israeli Troops Exit Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, Leaving Rubble and Bodies,” _Reuters_, April 1, 2024, [https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-troops-leave-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-after-two-week-sweep-2024-04-01/](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-troops-leave-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-after-two-week-sweep-2024-04-01/). [^17]: Elaine Ruth Fletcher, “Israel Withdraws From Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital – Large Portions of Facility Destroyed in Fighting,” _Health Policy Watch_, April 1, 2024, [https://healthpolicy-watch.news/israel-withdraws-from-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-large-portions-of-facility-destroyed-in-fighting/](https://healthpolicy-watch.news/israel-withdraws-from-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-large-portions-of-facility-destroyed-in-fighting/).