IDF Chief of Staff Joins Wedding of Chabad Family He Saved in Miracle Attack 22 Years Ago

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir paid a deeply personal visit Sunday night to the wedding of Menachem Kirshnzaft, son of Rabbi Yigal Kirshnzaft, the veteran Chabad shliach to the former community of Gush Katif and now Nitzan. The simcha took place at the events tent in Kfar Chabad.

During the celebration, Lt. Gen. Zamir recounted his unforgettable first meeting with the Kirshnzaft family 22 years earlier, when terrorists opened fire on their vehicle as they traveled along the Kissufim Road. Rabbi Kirshnzaft, his wife, and their eight young children — including baby Menachem — miraculously emerged without injury, despite their car being riddled with bullets.

The terrorist was neutralized at the scene by then–IDF officer Eyal Zamir, who was serving as commander of the 7th Armored Brigade at the Kissufim checkpoint. The harrowing incident forged a lifelong bond between the young officer and the shliach’s family.

Reflecting on that moment under the chuppah, Zamir shared: “I’ve been through many incidents and clashes with terrorists, but that event was a miracle from Heaven. Those who arrived first and saw the bullet-riddled car, after a bullet pierced the front windshield, understood that a miracle had occurred.”

He continued, turning to the chassan: “Someone was watching over you, over Am Yisrael, and over your family so that we could merit reaching this special moment. Menachem — who was then an infant sitting in a car seat covered in shattered glass — tonight we celebrate your wedding. I bless you that you build a beautiful home in Israel.”

The moving reunion, set against the joyous backdrop of a Chabad wedding, brought a miraculous story of Divine protection full circle.