When Israeli hostage Rimon Buchshtav Kirsht was released from the 53-day Hamas captivity in November 2023, she became a symbol of Israeli defiance in the face of evil.

Unlike other hostages, who were understandably too fearful to protest against their captors during the release, Buchshtav Kirsht made headlines for giving a “death stare” to the Hamas terrorist who was transporting her. 

THAT look! Rimon Kirsht stares the Hamas monsters right in the eyes! ???? ???????? pic.twitter.com/JaZXaF6BAY

— Arsen Ostrovsky ????️ (@Ostrov_A) November 29, 2023

Buchshtav Kirsht, 36, and her husband, Yogev, 34, were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nirim on October 7 by Hamas terrorists. 

Rimon was released nearly two months later as part of a limited hostage deal that included women and children. Yogev remains captive in the Hamas-controlled enclave to this day. 

Hamas documented the release, and the footage was broadcast worldwide by various Arab-speaking media outlets. 

Symbol of resilience 

The bravery and defiance demonstrated by Buchshtav Kirsht inspired many Israelis looking for a glimmer of hope following the October 7 attacks. 

Among them was veteran American-Israeli journalist David Brinn, ISRAEL21c’s editor in chief until 2008. 

“Like the rest of the country, I was watching the hostages being released in November on TV, and the image of Rimon stuck in my mind,” Brinn tells ISRAEL21c. “It was very symbolic of the resilience of the Israeli people.” 

Over the next two months, Brinn workshopped a few song ideas that would pay tribute to Buchshtav Kirsht and the other hostages. 

“I wanted the song to be told in Rimon’s voice — what she was thinking about being in captivity and what she was thinking walking away,” he explains. 

The recording 

Brinn, today a senior editor at The Jerusalem Post, delved into songwriting during the Covid pandemic, recording songs at his home studio in Ma’aleh Adumim, near Jerusalem.

He recorded the initial version of the track himself, but ultimately decided that in order for the song to resonate it had to be sung by a professional singer, preferably a woman. 

“I consider myself quite a good songwriter, but not such a great performer,” he laughs. 

Brinn turned to his lifelong friend Joe Brien, who lives in the United States. Brien and his wife, Jane, are part of a Maine-based band, Libbytown. 

“I sent them the song, and asked if Jane would possibly record the vocals over my instrumental track,” Brinn recalls. 

Joe and Jane loved the song so much that they decided to record and produce the entire song from scratch. 

“There were about 30 versions of the song. The 34th version was the one that stuck,” says Brinn.

Rimon’s song

“Rimon’s Song” was all but ready. 

Brinn, however, didn’t feel comfortable having Buchshtav Kirsht’s name in the title without receiving an approval from her.  

“I found a way to make contact with the family, particularly Rimon’s mother. I sent her the song and she played it for Rimon,” says Brinn. 

“She said the song perfectly captured what she was going through, and she would be honored to have her name attached to it. That was a sigh of relief for me,” he adds. 

Brinn’s son, Koby, a professional graphic designer, then created a video for the song, compiling footage of the hostages being released, and uploaded it to YouTube.

Hostage anthem

Brinn, who has lived in Israel for over 40 years, says he wanted the song to be in English rather than Hebrew in order to help raise awareness globally of the issue of hostages. 

“More and more people, especially outside of Israel, don’t want to hear about it anymore; it’s just not in their consciousness,” says Brinn.

“Having a song in English that reminds them that the hostages are still there and something has to be done, was very important to me.”

Buchshtav Kirsht’s relative, who works in the music industry in Israel, is currently helping Brinn promote the song. 

“Rimon’s Song” recently became part of the Hostage Family Forum’s campaign and is expected to be played at one of its upcoming weekly rallies. 

Brinn says his next goal is to have the song played on Israeli radio.