Ariel Markus is a Canadian who attended Bnei Akiva’s Yeshivat Or Chaim Jewish high school in North York, Ont., according to his Facebook page. He also worked at two Jewish summer camps in Ontario: Camp Eitan Breakaway and Camp Moshava Ennismore.

Markus is listed as an active Israeli army soldier in a Dec. 5, 2020 newsletter from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Synagogue, which has a section stating the following: “If you have children or grandchildren currently serving in the IDF please email [email protected] and we will add them to a list to be kept in mind during davening. Please send in their Hebrew name and their mother’s Hebrew name.”