With only a pistol: The 17-hour battle waged by a Chabad emissary to the Gaza envelope

Eli Levi, a Chabad emissary in the Gaza envelope, fought a 17-hour battle against hundreds of terrorists on the morning of Simchat Torah, armed with only a pistol. In an interview with Channel 14, he recounts the dramatic moments: the last priestly blessing to his children, turning to the Rebbe's picture, and fighting alongside eight additional soldiers. His daughter Chaya Sarah describes the difficult experience.

Eli Levi, a Chabad emissary in the Gaza envelope, fought a 17-hour battle against hundreds of terrorists on the morning of Simchat Torah, armed with only a pistol and 50 bullets. In an interview with Channel 14, he recounts the dramatic moments: at 6:29 AM a siren sounded, and after leaving the safe room he heard gunfire and saw black smoke in the sky. The security coordinator updated him that it was a major incident. Levi went outside, saw terrorists speeding in pickup trucks toward Moshav Yakhini and Sderot, and realized it was an unprecedented event. He entered his home, asked his wife Hodaya to flee, took a prayer shawl, helmet, and bulletproof vest, and gave his children a final priestly blessing. His daughter Chaya Sarah grabbed his leg and asked, "Dad, are you no longer a hero?" Levi turned to a large picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and said, "If I survive, I want to reach you one more time." Two months later, he traveled with his son to Brooklyn. Chaya Sarah describes the difficult experience: "I felt something I've never felt in my life."