Last Sunday, ZAKA’s International Unit received a report regarding a 25-year-old lone soldier, a U.S. resident who immigrated to Israel and served in the Golani Brigade, who passed away in the United States.

His family contacted ZAKA for assistance, and from that moment, ZAKA’s International Unit began working with the relevant authorities and local officials in the United States to ensure the dignity of the deceased and bring him to Israel for burial. As part of these efforts, and following extensive coordination with the authorities, permission was obtained to forgo an autopsy. At the same time, members of the International Unit assisted the family in traveling to Israel and worked to complete all necessary arrangements for the repatriation of his coffin.

His coffin is expected to arrive in Israel tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:00 a.m. The funeral will take place at 5:00 p.m. at Har HaMenuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem.

Haim Weingarten, ZAKA’s Deputy Director of Operations, said:

“Immediately upon receiving the family’s request, we began working together with ZAKA’s International Unit and the relevant authorities in the United States. Following extensive efforts, we succeeded in securing a waiver of the autopsy and arranging for his coffin to be brought to Israel. At the same time, we assisted the family in traveling to Israel and continue to support them during this difficult time, through his burial tomorrow in Jerusalem. Special thanks to Yossi Landau, Operations Officer for ZAKA’s Lachish Region, for his invaluable assistance throughout these efforts.”