Two Israeli military reservists quickly tied the knot in a spontaneous wedding ceremony Sunday night after rushing home following Hamas’ surprise attack this weekend.
Elinor Yosefin and Uri Mintzer were in Thailand when they were called for emergency reserve duty following Saturday morning’s unexpected attack — the worst Israel has faced in 50 years.
After rushing home, the couple decided to utilize the short amount of time before they had to report to their respective units to get married.
“I’ve envisioned this moment countless times, but never like this,” Mintzer, the groom, said, according to Israel National News.
“My hope remains that we can celebrate with a full-fledged wedding in the near future. I’m fortunate to have fallen in love with my best friend; she represents my past, present, and future,” he added.
The last-minute ceremony was officiated by Tzohar’s Rabbi David Stav and attended by the couple’s immediate family, as well as several others to complete the minyan, or the quorum of 10 Jewish adults needed for certain religious obligations.
“It’s rare for a couple to wed on the brink of heading to war,” Stav noted during the ceremony, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“This union showcases the resilience of their relationship and their deep love for each other, their homeland, and the Jewish nation. Our heartfelt prayer is for the home they establish to provide them shelter for countless years,” he said.
Stav noted that while the ceremony was smaller than they probably envisioned, following their safe return, “we can celebrate their union amidst a grand gathering of friends and family.”
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Monday that 300,000 reservists, like Yosefin and Mintzer, have been mobilized in the past 48 hours.
The Israeli army “has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly,” he noted, according to The Times of Israel.
The number of Israelis killed surpassed 1,000 on Tuesday, as over 2,400 are wounded and at least 150 people have been confirmed kidnapped by Hamas.
As Israel started striking back against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hamas has threatened to kill one hostage for every Israeli airstrike “targeting innocent civilians,” a spokesperson for the terrorist organization said Monday, two days into the devastating war.