JERUSALEM, Israel – David Newman, a 25-year-old former Israel Defense Forces soldier, tragically lost his life at a music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Before his death, he managed to save nearly 300 lives, including that of his girlfriend, during a terrorist attack.

Upon receiving news of his friend’s danger, Gidon Hazony, another friend of Newman’s, along with another companion, attempted to rescue him. Despite treating around 50 soldiers and civilians, they were unable to reach Newman before his untimely death. The area had been overrun by terrorists, making their attempt too dangerous to carry out.

During the attack, Newman and his girlfriend were advised by a police officer to flee in the opposite direction of their car as terrorists were approaching. Newman led a group of people to safety, instructing them to hide in industrial garbage cans to avoid the terrorists.

In response to the tragic events of Oct. 7, Hazony, along with other friends of Newman, set up a nonprofit organization called Soldiers Save Lives. Their mission is to provide tactical and humanitarian aid to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The organization has already supplied over 20 IDF units and civilian response teams with protective and self-defense gear, as documented on their website.

To raise support and awareness for their cause, board chairman David Gani and president Gidon Hazony traveled to Washington, D.C. The aim is to continue honoring Newman’s legacy by providing vital supplies to the IDF.

Soldiers Save Lives aims to ensure that such tragic events do not occur again by equipping IDF troops with the necessary gear and support. Through their efforts, they seek to uphold the memory of David Newman by actively working towards making a change.