North Shore Natives to Volunteer for IDF

A number of North Shore natives made the tip to the Jewish State last week to volunteer for the Israel Defense Forces as ‘lone soldiers’ - young people who leave behind their homes in the United States to fight in the IDF.

Among the Olim who made the Aliyah chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh were Samuel Eisenberg, 19, and Joshua Swatez, 19, from Skokie; Yael Gargir, 18, from Northbrook; Avraham Gutstein, 19, and Ryan Macks, 23, from Lincolnwood; Ori Kulbak, 18, from Highland Park; and Jeremy Weinstock, 18, and Nir Zaslavsky, 18, from Deerfield.

They will join the 850 lone soldiers from the U.S., and the 2,800 lone soldiers from around the world, who are currently serving in the IDF.

“These brave young men and women who chose to leave the comfort of their homes, and join the thousands of soldiers already serving in the army, are a tremendous source of pride for us and for the people of Israel,” said Nefesh B’Nefesh Co-Founder and Executive Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. “It is truly inspiring to see that Jews everywhere, young and old, and from all denominations, are determined to fulfill the dream of building the Jewish State and strengthening the Jewish nation.”