Missing Yeshiva Student: Massive Search Effort Continues

More than a week has passed since Nachman Kinan, a 24-year-old Chabad yeshiva student from Beit Shemesh, disappeared, and his family along with volunteer organizations are racing against time to locate him. On Wednesday, an especially extensive search operation is underway, with dozens of volunteers deployed across Beit Shemesh and northern Israel in an attempt to find any lead that might solve the mystery.

According to police information, Kinan left his home last Sunday evening heading to Tzfat (Safed), carrying a black backpack and a dark brown tefillin bag. The young man had planned to meet with his rabbi in Tzfat, but never arrived at his destination. The last cellular signal from his phone was detected in the Tiberias area on Monday afternoon, and since then his whereabouts remain unknown.

Photo: The Israel Canine Unit spokesperson

Multiple teams and search units are working simultaneously in the field as part of the complex effort. The Israel Canine Unit (known by its Hebrew acronym Yachal) is among the search bodies, with unit volunteers under the command of Yekutiel (Mike) Ben Yaakov investing significant resources in the searches. Documentation released by the unit in recent days shows handlers completing complex terrain grids in the northern sector, deploying specially trained tracking dogs alongside a fleet of drones transmitting aerial imagery.

Alongside the canine unit's activities, additional forces are participating in the search operation, including Israel Police officers, rescue units, diving teams that have searched the Sea of Galilee area, the ZAKA and Yedidim search organizations, together with the missing man's worried family and waves of volunteers from across the country. Nachman's brother, Daniel, described the anxious moments in an interview with Kikar Hashabbat: "We're simply combing through the locations, taking every indication, every report and every piece of information that comes in and trying to verify it and understand. But it's just helplessness, because there's no lead."

Nachman's brother, Daniel, in an interview with Kikar Hashabbat

As part of today's expanded search marathon, operations are extending significantly to Beit Shemesh, Nachman's home city. Organizers have issued an urgent call for the public to join the effort, with a central volunteer assembly point set for today at 3:00 PM at the parking lot entrance of Yarmut Park, from the direction of Tiferet Naftali Street.

Volunteers are needed for foot searches, vehicle owners, and citizens equipped with professional drones and 4x4 off-road vehicles to map water cisterns, buildings, and open natural areas surrounding the city. Family members are urging anyone who may have any information about Nachman's whereabouts to contact the Beit Shemesh police station urgently at 02-9902384, or Israel Police's 100 hotline.

According to the description released by police spokespersons, Nachman is of medium build, approximately 1.74 meters (5'8") tall, with black hair and a beard. His eyes are brown. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black suit and white shirt, a black hat, and was carrying a black backpack and a dark brown tefillin bag. The family asks the public to continue spreading word of his disappearance with all their strength and to increase prayers for his safe return.