A Reservist Saves A Child’s Life and Meets Him 9 Years Later.

On May 2, 2023, almost 9 years after Operation Protective Edge, MAJ (res.) Adir and Yair were reunited in an emotional meeting. 

MAJ (res.) Adir’s story began in December, 2003 when he drafted to the Search and Rescue Brigade.

Approximately six years later, during Operation Protective Edge, the battalion was dispatched to the city of Rehovot for operational activity. MAJ (res.) Adir and the Company Sergeant Major acted as a shield and protected the life of Yair, who was 4-years-old at the time.

Nine years later, they were reunited for the first time since the incident as a surprise to MAJ (res.) Adir on the mark of the Excellence Award Ceremony.

The excellence awards were awarded to outstanding soldiers of the Home Front Command by the Commanding Officer, MG Rafi Milo. Among the recipients was MAJ (res.) Adir, a company commander in the 972nd Search and Rescue Battalion in the Jerusalem and Central District.

MAJ (res.) Adir shares: “Seeing Yair develop from a boy into a teenager really moves me. I am happy that on a significant day like this, I got to meet Yair and his family. The meeting cheered me up and reminded me of what all of us should always remember—our strength lies in our unity, in doing things for one another, in giving.”

In response, Yair shared that “It’s exciting to see Adir after all this time. I remember the incident although I was relatively young. Watching Adir receive his excellence award was inspiring to me. I’m glad that I got to pay my respects to Adir and the Home Front Command as a whole.”