Michael Levin

Who is Michael Levin?

Michael Levin was an Israeli soldier who emigrated from the United States and joined the Paratroopers Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. Levin took part in the first round of fighting in the Lebanese town of Ayta ash-Sha’b during the Second Lebanon War, and was killed in action. His death inspired the creation of a support organization for other immigrant soldiers in Israel, and a memorial to him was built in Jerusalem.

Levin's friend Omer Yaniv, from the same paratrooper unit, gave a graphic description of the chaotic circumstances surrounding Levin’s death. The 890th Paratrooper Battalion came under heavy fire as they advanced into the town. The soldiers could not identify the source of the fire. The battalion’s units got separated when running for cover. Levin’s platoon hid in the back room of an empty store. A Hezbollah fighter managed to get close and fire straight into the small room, hitting Levin in the head. After several hours reinforcements finally reached the building and managed to extract them.

Levin was one of three Israeli soldiers killed in Ayta ash-Sha'b that day. Another 27 soldiers were wounded. For several hours, the Israeli soldiers fought fiercely and killed some 15 Hezbollah fighters, according to the IDF. The wounded were treated at the spot under heavy fire, as an evacuation was deemed almost impossible.