❤✡Am Yisrael Chai, Yeshua Adonai✡❤

 ✡Our Young Heroes✡

✡“Am Yisrael Chai, Yeshua Adonai”✡

Two American warriors serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fell in battle this week as the IDF continued its effort to destroy Hamas’ ability to terrorize the Jewish state. Max Steinberg, 24, was born and raised in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley, and served as a sharpshooter in the Golani Brigade. Sean Carmeli, 21, was from South Padre Island, Texas, and also served in the Golani Brigade.

Over the years, thousands of American volunteers have come to Israel to serve in the IDF. These admirable young men and women – unwilling to sit idly by while Israel fights for its survival – leave their tranquil American life to help defend the Jewish state against multiple enemies. My nephew, Noam, who was born and raised in Chicago, was one of these volunteers, and during his time in the IDF he served in the same unit as Max and Sean.

About 20,000 people attended the funeral service of Sean in the northern city of Haifa, while 30,000 paid tribute to Max as his family buried his body in Jerusalem’s military cemetery. These thousands of Israelis – most of whom did not know Max or Sean – paid their respects at these young men’s funerals, funerals that symbolized who the Jewish people are and how we deal with adversity and tragedy as a nation.

Israelis from every sector of society came in droves to show support and solidarity for our young heroes. And they came to say “thank you” to two young men who did not have to serve in the Israeli military, but who chose to travel across the Atlantic Ocean in order to fight side-by-side with their brothers and sisters in Israel.

It is unfortunate that we need such painful reminders of who we are, but in no other nation would tens of thousands of strangers come together in such unity and love to honor a fallen solider.

More than anything else, God desires us to show such unity and love for one another. During the last few weeks, as Israel has faced challenges on so many levels and fronts, the unity felt among Jews in Israel and between Jews and Christians around the world is undeniable. As his son Max’s body, cloaked in the blue and white Israeli flag, was laid to rest, Stuart Steinberg exclaimed, “Am Yisrael Chai,” “the Nation of Israel Lives.” Amen! – Ami Farkas