A young Long Island native left Wednesday for Israel to join the fight against Hamas terrorists – but not before receiving an emotional farewell at John F Kennedy Airport.
Noah Nierenberg’s parents were among the dozens of Long Islanders to see off the 22-year-old, who became an Israeli citizen after graduating high school in Nassau County and served in the Israeli Defense Forces for a year and a half.
He had been back in New York to study Talmud at Yeshiva University in Manhattan for a year, but decided to cut his studies short to join the war.
“That’s the Jewish idea…God gave us the gift of Israel and we have the ability to be part of it and protect it,” Nierenberg said at the airport.
Nierenberg was stationed in the Golan Heights and then the West Bank during his time in the IDF, but it’s unclear where he will be sent once he arrives back in Israel.
He said he doesn’t know whether he’ll be in action or not but wants to help in any way possible.
“At the moment, all I want to do is just be there and help as much as I can,” Nierenberg said. “I was speaking to a friend who is stationed somewhere hot and last night I finally got through to him. Hearing how scared he was made me scared for him, but until I get there I won’t know.”
The student was in Israel over the High Holidays and left the night of Hamas’ invasion on a pre-booked flight to NYC.
“I wanted to stay in Israel. I wanted to be with my brothers,” Nierenberg said. “But my rabbi told me, ‘Everyone in the country is dropping their kids off at military bases, hugging them and crying with them. You have to give your parents that opportunity.”
So he flew back to spend time with his family for a few days before heading back.
His parents, Yoni and Alissa, were emotional at the airport.
“As parents, we are intensely proud,” dad Yoni said. “We may not be happy about the situation because the loss of life on both sides is a challenge, but we’re just intensely, intensely proud.”
He added that they have mixed emotions about their son’s decision as they fear the dangers he may face.
“It’s such a dichotomy of being proud and scared. You don’t want him to go because you’re a parent, but yet there’s so much pride and understanding,” Yon said. “His love of Israel and his support of life stems from his grandfather who was a World War II bombardier.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was also at JFK Airport for the send-off.
“Obviously there’s mixed feelings. You worry a lot, but you just admire the courage someone like that has, knowing they’re going into extreme danger and they’re willing to do that to support Israel,” Blakeman said. “To all the soldiers we owe a debt of gratitude, and we want them to know we’re behind them.”
More than 1,200 people, including 14 Americans, have been killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel and another 1,100 have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli airstrikes.