Shay Levinson

Shay Levinson, a 19-year-old from Giv'at Avni in northern Israel, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7th.

Shay was serving as a member of an IDF tank crew when his tank came under attack. An explosion during the attack led to the tragic death of two of Shay's fellow crew members. The force of the explosion caused Shay to fall off the tank, and he was subsequently taken hostage by the terrorists and transported to Gaza.

Shay is not only known for his military service but also for his passion for volleyball. For several years, he played as part of a team in Eilabun, an Arab village near his hometown of Giv'at Avni. What made his participation unique was that Shay was often the only Israeli Jew on the team, demonstrating his strong belief in coexistence and the power of sports to bridge divides.