In a recent interview, Gal Shmul, a resident of the Krayot and a former IDF soldier, shared his incredible story of miracles and hashgacha pratis as he narrowly escaped death twice. “I believe I’m alive because of my tefillos at the Ohel and the merit of the Tanya I learn,” Gal said in an interview with Sichat HaShavua.

Gal’s story begins during the brutal fighting of Operation Protective Edge several years ago, experiences that left lasting scars.

At the time, he served as a combat medic in Battalion 15 of the Golani Brigade. He was stationed near the site of the devastating APC disaster, when seven soldiers were killed and the body of Oron Shaul, HY”D, was taken captive. At that same time, only a few hundred meters away, a sniper shot Shon Carmeli, HY”D.

Despite the danger, Gal ran toward Shon in an attempt to save him. As he ran, he noticed figures moving among the bushes several dozen meters away. Suddenly, they opened fire. Gal dropped to the ground and saw three bullets pass directly over him.

“In that moment,” Gal recalled, “I screamed with all my strength, ‘Shema Yisrael.’ And immediately, the shooting stopped.”

Only years later did Gal learn the full truth. The shooters were IDF soldiers who had mistakenly identified him as a terrorist. It was his cry of Shema Yisrael that made them realize their mistake and cease fire instantly.

When leaving Gaza after the operation, Gal encountered Lubavitcher chassidim distributing siddurim and Tanyas to soldiers. He accepted a Tanya and tried to learn it, though he struggled to understand it. Still, he felt that it gave him inner strength.

“Even though I didn’t understand the words,” he said, “I felt that the Tanya was holding me up from inside.”

About four years ago, Gal met Rabbi Yossi Deitsch, shliach in the Krayot. Gal shared with him his connection to Tanya and his frustration at not being able to grasp it. Rabbi Deitsch suggested that they learn together, and they began a weekly Tanya shiur.

Through consistent, in-depth study, Gal slowly rediscovered Yiddishkeit. Today, he puts on tefillin daily, has set times for Torah learning, and lives a visibly transformed life.

Two and a half years ago, Gal joined a New York trip organized by an organization that supports soldiers wounded physically and emotionally. The highlight of the trip was a visit to the Rebbe’s Ohel. Together with his friends, Gal recited Tehillim, wrote panim, and davened.

“That visit strengthened my entire commitment to Yiddishkeit,” Gal said. “After that, I felt a responsibility to give back.” He began helping local shluchim and bringing joy and encouragement to wounded soldiers like himself.

But the story was far from over.

Exactly one year ago, on the 18th of Tevet, 5785, Gal was standing outside a restaurant in Tel Aviv with friends. In the middle of their conversation, his friend Ofek Miller playfully took Gal’s baseball cap and placed it on his own head, backward.

Moments later, a terrorist appeared behind them and lunged at Ofek’s neck with a knife. In an open miracle, the visor of the reversed cap blocked the blade and reduced the force of the attack.

As people fled in panic, a passerby drew his personal weapon and killed the terrorist. In the meantime, Ofek collapsed on the sidewalk, bleeding heavily. Without hesitation, Gal removed his shirt, applied pressure, and stopped the bleeding, saving Ofek’s life.

“By saving him,” Gal later said, “I finally found closure from not being able to save Shon Carmeli in Gaza.”

In an amazing hashgacha pratis, during those very same hours, Oron Shaul’s body was recovered in Gaza and brought to burial in Eretz Yisrael. The painful circle was finally closed.

A video of the attack circulated widely, with many viewers clearly witnessing the open miracles involved. Numerous people wrote that the story inspired them to begin keeping Shabbos and strengthen their Yiddishkeit.

Reflecting on everything, Gal said, “The terrorist stood millimeters away from me and didn’t touch me. I believe I’m alive because of my tefillos at the Ohel and the merit of the Tanya I learn.”

He added another remarkable detail. A year earlier, on the Alter Rebbe’s yahrzeit, Gal committed to a year-long donation supporting the Alter Rebbe’s resting place in Haditch. The final payment was processed just days before the attack.

“In that merit,” Gal said quietly, “I stayed alive – and I merited to save my friend’s life as well.”