Rimon Buchshtab-Kirsht survived 53 days of Hamas captivity, only to lose her husband Yagev to the terrorists' cruelty. Now, from her new home near the Gaza border, she is fulfilling the promises they wrote together in a notebook while held in a tunnel, ensuring the world never forgets the pure soul she lost.
Yagev Buchshtab, a soundman and man of peace from Kibbutz Nirim, was executed by Hamas in February 2024 as IDF troops closed in. His body, recovered alongside five other slain hostages in August 2024, bore the marks of starvation: 42 pounds on a frame that once carried 152. Yet his spirit, his wife insists, was never broken.
Who was Yagev Buchshtab, the hostage from Kibbutz Nirim?
Yagev was born, raised, and lived in Kibbutz Nirim, near the Gaza border. He served in the Armored Corps as a tank gunner during Operation Cast Lead in 2008, a war that left deep scars. PTSD, depression, and anxiety followed, but Yagev found solace in music, building his own electric guitars and working as a soundman.
Rimon describes him as a man of peace who drove Palestinian children to Israeli hospitals and quietly donated to Palestinian causes. He was a soul who saw everyone's pain, even while carrying his own. As she said, he was more of a feminist than she was, a man of profound empathy.
How did the couple survive captivity together?
From the moment Hamas terrorists stormed their home on October 7, 2023, the couple refused to separate. They were kept in a cage within a cell, wrapped around each other for warmth and comfort. Rimon's ring finger remains swollen from the beatings she endured, and missing teeth make speaking difficult. Yet she fought, battling captors for medicine for fellow hostage Daniella Aloni and caring for the older men in their cell.
She begged the terrorists to release the elderly instead of her, a decision she calls the shame of her life. Alex Dancyg, Avraham Munder, and Chaim Peri died in that cell, and Rimon carries that weight. But she also remembers the solidarity: Yarden Bibas promised to ensure Yagev drank water whenever he did, a vow of brotherhood in hell.
What promises did Rimon make to Yagev?
In their notebook, the couple scrawled a short list of promises. On her second day of freedom, Rimon completed one: officially changing her name to Buchshtab-Kirsht. She also promised to seek help, to find love, and not to forget what Yagev taught her about her own worth.
She has kept those promises. In Avshalom, a moshav 20 minutes from Kibbutz Nirim, she now shares a home with her dogs, cats, and Eliran Mizelman, an old friend who became her new life partner. She set up a NIS 3 million crowdfunding campaign to secure her future, and she dreams of the daughter they always wanted.
Why does Rimon share her story publicly?
For months after her release, Rimon was silenced, forbidden from speaking about Yagev's IDF service for fear it would harm him. After his murder, she questioned why interviews mattered at all. But she found her answer: the world must know Yagev's name.
As the Psalmist wrote, 'The memory of the righteous is a blessing' (Proverbs 10:7). Rimon Buchshtab-Kirsht is living that blessing, ensuring her husband's pure soul is never forgotten. She is a testament to Jewish resilience, turning grief into purpose and pain into promise.
Frequently asked questions
When was Yagev Buchshtab's body recovered?
IDF troops recovered Yagev Buchshtab's body from Khan Younis in August 2024, alongside Avraham Munder, Nadav Popplewell, Alex Dancyg, Chaim Peri, and Yoram Metzger. All were kidnapped alive and murdered in captivity.
What happened to the other hostages in the cell?
Yarden Bibas was eventually moved to Rafah, while Yagev stayed to care for the older hostages. Tragically, Alex Dancyg, Avraham Munder, and Chaim Peri died in captivity. Yarden's wife Shiri and their sons Ariel and Kfir were also murdered by Hamas.
Where is Rimon Buchshtab-Kirsht now?
Rimon lives in Avshalom, a moshav near the Gaza border, with her animals and new partner Eliran Mizelman. She continues to rehabilitate and plans to fulfill her dream of having a daughter.