A man was hospitalized after he was shot outside of a North Miami Beach synagogue he attends late Sunday evening, and police are now searching for the person who pulled the trigger.

Miami-Dade Police say the shooting occurred outside the Young Israel of Greater Miami located off Northeast 171st Street around 7 p.m. The victim is a 68-year-old man who was shot in the legs during what police say was a drive-by shooting.

Friends later identified the victim as Yosef Lipshutz. They said he was waiting outside the synagogue to escort the elderly rabbi in for an afternoon prayer service when he was shot.

Investigators said he was hospitalized and undergoing surgery. The man is a member of the synagogue, but it's unknown if that played a role in the shooting.

North Miami Beach Police are assisting in the search for the shooter, saying that a black Chevrolet Impala circled the area twice before the driver stepped out of the vehicle and opened fire.

Officials said it is too early in the investigation to determine whether the shooting was a hate crime.

"If you can't be safe where you want to be able to go and worship and pray, then what kind of country are we living in?" Miami-Dade Police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers 305-471-8477.