Max Steinberg's funeral in Jerusalem. Photo: Tazpit.

JNS.org – More than 1,000 people gathered at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, Calif., to honor the life and military service of Max Steinberg, the Los Angeles native who died while fighting for Israel in Gaza last month.

Steinberg, 24, was a lone soldier serving as a sharpshooter in the elite Golani brigade when he was killed along with six other Israel Defense Forces soldiers in Gaza on July 19. Despite knowing little Hebrew and not coming from a religious family, Steinberg joined the IDF after visiting Israel on a Birthright trip in 2012.

At the gathering, Steinberg’s parents, along with Jewish community leaders and Israeli political figures, came to honor the fallen soldier’s dedication to Israel.

“Nothing can duplicate the love showered on our family by the people of Israel,” said Evie Steinberg, Max’s mother, the Times of Israelreported.

Steinberg was buried at Israel’s military cemetery on Mt. Herzl in a ceremony attended by more than 35,000 people.

“Max is [now] resting in peace [on Mt. Herzl] with Theodore Herzl, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister Golda Meir, and tens of thousands of other heroic soldiers,” Evie said.