SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ishai Lifshits has only been living in Arizona for a few months. Now he's being called back to his home country.
After serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a sergeant, Lifshits came to Scottsdale to be an ambassador for an orthodox Jewish seminary in Israel.
He was planning on staying in Arizona for a year before going to college. Then on Saturday, he learned of the terrorist attack in Israel.
“My heart is broken, I know many people who have passed away,” Lifshits said. "It’s beyond humanity.”
He grew up in Jerusalem the youngest of four siblings. His entire family still lives in Israel and now Lifshits said many of them including his brother are now on the frontlines. Feeling a sense of duty, he didn't wait for the army to call on him to serve.
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"For five days in a row I was trying to find ways to get back to the army to find like a unit that would want to take me,” Lifshits said.
Then on Wednesday morning, he got the call he has been waiting on since Saturday.
“I am proud and glad to be a part of this effort,” Lifshits said. “I need to do something to help my brothers.”
At this time, his mission is classified he said. While he doesn't know what his role, he hopes this ongoing struggle will end quickly but knows that may not be the case. Lifshits wanting to do all he can to save those who have been captured and prevent further lives from being taken.
“I am praying to God, I am praying to Hashem, to guide us the right way.”
In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and over 2,900 others were injured by Hamas forces. 1,200 people in Palestine have been killed and 5,600 were injured by retaliatory attacks from Israel, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
According to the United Nations, 6,407 Palestinians and 308 Israelis had been killed in the conflict since 2008, prior to the recent attacks.
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