Story has been updated to include additional information.
The mother, father, sister and brother of “>American lone soldier Michael Levin and began considering a career in the IDF.
, said only: “He's the man.”</p>
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“>Tweeted: “Deaths of IDF/US citizens Max Steinberg & Sean Carmeli in Gaza heartbreaking reminder of close bonds w/ Israel.”)
U.S. ambassador to Israel Shapiro (pictured above, right), who spoke at the funeral and accompanied Kerry to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, took that sentiment a step further. “There's no greater manifestation of the bond between our countries than an American citizen putting himself in harm's way to defend Israel,” he said at the shiva.
The family also told Kerry how stubborn Steinberg had been from the start about joining the Golani brigade, despite his initial rejection based on insufficient Hebrew skills. (At the funeral, Stuart remembered his son saying: “If it's not Golani, it's jail or it's home.”)
“He was in the Golani unit?” Kerry asked. “Tough guy. Did you know he had that in him?”
“>tunnels that lead straight under the border to the kibbutzim, the most peace-loving people that we have.”
Peres then handed Stuart, the soldier's father, a personalized letter that made him cry as he read it aloud.
Earlier, Kerry had also passed along a small, gem-encrusted Book of Psalms to the Steinbergs that he picked up from the Israeli president during For the latest from Israel, follow Related: At the request of the family of Max Steinberg, the Jewish Journal will forward letters and emails of condolence. You can email them to steinbergfamily@jewishjournal.com or send them to Steinberg Family: Tribe Media Corp. 3250 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1250 Los Angeles, CA 90010.
