Rimon Kirsht and her husband, Yagev Buchshtab, 34, share a life filled with music, love, and caring for abandoned animals. Residing in Kibbutz Nirim, their journey began in their youth, playing together in a high school band (with Rimon on the drums and Yagev on sound and amplification), which laid the foundation for their enduring bond. After 17 years of friendship, their relationship blossomed into deep love, culminating in a modest wedding amidst the pandemic, on the kibbutz. Rimon's passion extends to gardening, alternative medicine, and volunteer work with assault victims, reflecting her deep empathy and care for others.
Their home on Kibbutz Nirim, described by their parents as a green sanctuary of music and love for both humans and animals, reflects their shared values and dreams. In this vibrant home, they raise five dogs and five abandoned cats they took in.
The couple's life took a harrowing turn on the morning of October 7, when they were forcibly kidnapped from their home by Hamas terrorists. They were taken, embraced in each other's arms, and loaded onto a vehicle as one entity. Throughout their captivity, despite efforts to pull them apart, they resisted, striving to remain united, finding solace in each other's presence.
In the beginning of November, Hamas posted a video showing Rimon alongside Daniel Aloni (44) and Yelena Trupanob (50), seated in plastic chairs against a blank wall. During their captivity, Rimon helped Daniel take care of her 5-year-old daughter,Emilia. By the end of November, Rimon was released from Hamas captivity after 53 days as part of a temporary cease-fire deal. Yelena, Daniel and Emilia were released as well, under the same agreement.


Rimon's courageous stance during her transition to the Red Cross - a defiant refusal to be used as a pawn by Hamas or to conform to their little show, intended to portray them as "humane," captured the admiration of many, and the footage became viral.
Yosef Hadad, an Arab-Israeli journalist and advocacy activist for Israel, wrote in a post that garnered tens of thousands of likes across various platforms: "How much of a heroine is Rimon Kirscht? In Hamas captivity, she was with her partner. When the terrorists came to her yesterday before her release, she refused to be released without him until they forced her. At the moment of transition to the Red Cross, she made sure to look the terrorist straight in the eye, to walk upright, to embrace Merav Tal who was released alongside her, not to settle accounts with Hamas or the Red Cross representative with her fake smile. She walked strong and proud. A true heroine!".
View Rimon’s moment of transition from Hamas to the Red Cross, as appeared on Yosef Haddad’s post:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=901067707654788

At the time of writing these lines, Yagev remains captive in Gaza, with his family and the broader community holding onto hope for his safe return, inspired by Rimon's resilience and the love that she and Yagev share - a love that transcends adversity and illuminates the path home.