This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/world/middleeast/2-americans-among-israeli-soldiers-killed-in-gaza.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| For Two Slain Americans, Commitment Came Early | For Two Slain Americans, Commitment Came Early |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| LOS ANGELES — Growing up in this city’s San Fernando Valley, Max Steinberg was a typical American boy, and not a particularly religious one. But after a trip to Israel two years ago, his life took a radical shift: Just a few months after first setting foot in the country, he returned to Israel, determined to become a combat soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, which he did. | |
| On Sunday, Mr. Steinberg, a 24-year-old sharpshooter with the Golani Brigade, was riding with his unit through Gaza City when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, and he was killed. | On Sunday, Mr. Steinberg, a 24-year-old sharpshooter with the Golani Brigade, was riding with his unit through Gaza City when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, and he was killed. |
| “He really connected with everything about Israel,” his younger sister, Paige Steinberg, who accompanied him on his first trip there in 2012, said in a Facebook message. “He worked really hard to be in Golani. He was the strongest person I have ever met, and had the kindest heart.” | “He really connected with everything about Israel,” his younger sister, Paige Steinberg, who accompanied him on his first trip there in 2012, said in a Facebook message. “He worked really hard to be in Golani. He was the strongest person I have ever met, and had the kindest heart.” |
| Mr. Steinberg was one of 13 Israeli soldiers, including two Americans, who were killed on Sunday, in what was the deadliest day yet for both sides in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Nissim Sean Carmeli, a sergeant in the Golani Brigade who hailed from Texas, was also killed Sunday, while engaged in combat in the Gaza Strip. | Mr. Steinberg was one of 13 Israeli soldiers, including two Americans, who were killed on Sunday, in what was the deadliest day yet for both sides in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Nissim Sean Carmeli, a sergeant in the Golani Brigade who hailed from Texas, was also killed Sunday, while engaged in combat in the Gaza Strip. |
| The two men were among around 1,100 soldiers who serve in the Israeli Army despite not growing up in Israel, officials said, and they had taken disparate journeys from the United States to combat in Gaza. Mr. Carmeli, 21, had long family ties to the country he would eventually fight for. | The two men were among around 1,100 soldiers who serve in the Israeli Army despite not growing up in Israel, officials said, and they had taken disparate journeys from the United States to combat in Gaza. Mr. Carmeli, 21, had long family ties to the country he would eventually fight for. |
| His parents moved three decades ago from Israel to South Padre Island, on the Gulf Coast of Texas, where Mr. Carmeli grew up in a tight Jewish community and spent summers at Chabad day and overnight camps. Mr. Carmeli’s parents then decided to move the family back to Israel, where he attended high school, said Rabbi Asher Hecht of Chabad of the Rio Grande Valley, who knew Mr. Carmeli from childhood. | His parents moved three decades ago from Israel to South Padre Island, on the Gulf Coast of Texas, where Mr. Carmeli grew up in a tight Jewish community and spent summers at Chabad day and overnight camps. Mr. Carmeli’s parents then decided to move the family back to Israel, where he attended high school, said Rabbi Asher Hecht of Chabad of the Rio Grande Valley, who knew Mr. Carmeli from childhood. |
| After graduation, he joined the Golani Brigade, an elite unit. Rabbi Hecht said that Mr. Carmeli insisted on going into Gaza with his brigade even though his superior had offered to allow him to stay behind because of a wound on his foot. | After graduation, he joined the Golani Brigade, an elite unit. Rabbi Hecht said that Mr. Carmeli insisted on going into Gaza with his brigade even though his superior had offered to allow him to stay behind because of a wound on his foot. |
| “He was very proud to be in the Israeli Army,” Rabbi Hecht said. | “He was very proud to be in the Israeli Army,” Rabbi Hecht said. |
| But Mr. Carmeli always considered South Padre and its famous beaches his home away from home, and planned to return to Texas for college after completing his army service in 2015, said Elroy Mizrachi, 19, a lifelong friend who grew up with Mr. Carmeli in South Padre before they both moved to Israel. | But Mr. Carmeli always considered South Padre and its famous beaches his home away from home, and planned to return to Texas for college after completing his army service in 2015, said Elroy Mizrachi, 19, a lifelong friend who grew up with Mr. Carmeli in South Padre before they both moved to Israel. |
| “I’m devastated,” Mr. Mizrachi said. “He was my brother, my best friend, my role model. The future was very bright for him.” | “I’m devastated,” Mr. Mizrachi said. “He was my brother, my best friend, my role model. The future was very bright for him.” |
| By contrast, Mr. Steinberg had few obvious ties to the country he would fight for. Rather, his relationship with Israel was a love-at-first-sight affair that began with his trip in 2012 sponsored by Birthright, an organization that pays for young American Jews to visit Israel. | By contrast, Mr. Steinberg had few obvious ties to the country he would fight for. Rather, his relationship with Israel was a love-at-first-sight affair that began with his trip in 2012 sponsored by Birthright, an organization that pays for young American Jews to visit Israel. |
| Growing up in suburban Los Angeles, Mr. Steinberg was always up for a trip to the water park or a game of pickup football. The smallest player on the field, he threw himself around as if he were 200 pounds, friends recalled. | Growing up in suburban Los Angeles, Mr. Steinberg was always up for a trip to the water park or a game of pickup football. The smallest player on the field, he threw himself around as if he were 200 pounds, friends recalled. |
| “He was one funny guy,” Ms. Steinberg said. “He never wanted to harm a thing, saved every little bug growing up. He would pick up other people’s trash and put it in his pockets because he hated littering.” | “He was one funny guy,” Ms. Steinberg said. “He never wanted to harm a thing, saved every little bug growing up. He would pick up other people’s trash and put it in his pockets because he hated littering.” |
| But after high school, friends said, Mr. Steinberg spent a couple of aimless years attending classes at a college near his home in Los Angeles and working odd jobs. When he arrived in Israel in the summer of 2012, however, he seemed instantly to find his purpose. | But after high school, friends said, Mr. Steinberg spent a couple of aimless years attending classes at a college near his home in Los Angeles and working odd jobs. When he arrived in Israel in the summer of 2012, however, he seemed instantly to find his purpose. |
| Mr. Steinberg and his sister changed their flights to stay in Israel beyond the scheduled end of their trip. And once he returned to California, Mr. Steinberg immediately made plans to return. He had surgery on his back, so he would be able to pass an army physical, and insisted that he wanted to be part of a combat unit, even as army officers, seeing his small stature, expressed skepticism that he could do the job. | Mr. Steinberg and his sister changed their flights to stay in Israel beyond the scheduled end of their trip. And once he returned to California, Mr. Steinberg immediately made plans to return. He had surgery on his back, so he would be able to pass an army physical, and insisted that he wanted to be part of a combat unit, even as army officers, seeing his small stature, expressed skepticism that he could do the job. |
| “My first thought was that I didn’t want him to do it,” said Ben Gaudioz, a friend since second grade. “But at the same time, I could see that this was something he really wanted to devote himself to, so I was proud of him for finding that.” | “My first thought was that I didn’t want him to do it,” said Ben Gaudioz, a friend since second grade. “But at the same time, I could see that this was something he really wanted to devote himself to, so I was proud of him for finding that.” |
| Hayley Messersmith, a friend from high school, said that the army “ultimately saved his life.” | Hayley Messersmith, a friend from high school, said that the army “ultimately saved his life.” |
| When she last saw Mr. Steinberg, on a visit home several months ago, she said he planned to come back to California after he finished his service in November. He wanted to get serious about settling down and perhaps starting a family, Ms. Messersmith said. | When she last saw Mr. Steinberg, on a visit home several months ago, she said he planned to come back to California after he finished his service in November. He wanted to get serious about settling down and perhaps starting a family, Ms. Messersmith said. |
| Unfortunately, Mr. Steinberg never made it back. He spoke to his sister for the final time last week, and told her not to worry about him but to take care of their parents. He knew his mother was concerned about his safety. | Unfortunately, Mr. Steinberg never made it back. He spoke to his sister for the final time last week, and told her not to worry about him but to take care of their parents. He knew his mother was concerned about his safety. |
| She and her family left on Monday for Israel, where he will be buried. | She and her family left on Monday for Israel, where he will be buried. |
| “I just want him to rest peacefully,” Ms. Steinberg said. “I hope he knows how many people admire his bravery and love him so much.” | “I just want him to rest peacefully,” Ms. Steinberg said. “I hope he knows how many people admire his bravery and love him so much.” |