NEW HAVEN — A New Haven man who was serving with the Israel Defense Forces was killed in combat in Lebanon, according to news reports and a family friend.
Sgt. Moshe Yitzchak Katz, 22, “fell in battle in Lebanon,” his father, Menachem “Mendy” Katz, posted on Facebook. Mendy Katz’s business partner, Carol Caprio, said Sunday that Katz was in flight to Israel with other family members for the burial.
Katz was a soldier of the 890th battalion, Paratroopers Brigade, the IDF posted on Facebook.
“The IDF sends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May his memory be a blessing,” the post said.
“My heart is shattered and the wound is real,” his father posted on Facebook
Caprio, partner with Mendy Katz in Monarch Luxury, a property management company, said Moshe Katz had just recently been called to duty.
Caprio forwarded a tribute to the younger Katz from Hatzalah of Waterbury, a volunteer ambulance service she said Mendy Katz volunteered with. The tribute said he had joined the IDF one year ago.
“Moshe embodied a rare blend of joy, purpose, and selflessness,” the Hatzalah tribute said. “He was known for his infectious love of life and his ability to bring laughter and light into any room. Friends and family describe him as someone who instinctively lifted others up, always going above and beyond to make life better for the people around him.
“Moshe carried with him a fierce sense of responsibility, a devotion to Am Yisrael, and a commitment to something larger than himself,” the ambulance service said. “He served with pride, with heart, and with the same generosity of spirit that defined every part of his life.”
“As a son, Moshe was devoted, caring, and unwavering in his dedication to his parents and siblings,” the tribute said. “As a soldier, he stood on the front lines with courage and conviction. As a Jew, he lived with passion, humor, and a boundless love for his people.