|
Shabbat Ne'edarei Tzahal
Sabbath of Remembrance for the Israeli MIAs
Kislev 5762
December 2001
Dear Rabbi and Synagogue Leader,
Parashat VaYeishev relates the story of Mechirat Yosef, the casting out of one Jewish brother, a tragic episode in Jewish history. This parasha achingly describes the heartbreak of Jacob our father who remained inconsolable for his loss. Jacob was torn by doubts and questions concerning his beloved son Joseph's fate (see Rashi, Bereishit 37, 35).
We are also torn apart by the question of whether our Jewish sons, our lost soldiers who are missing in action, are still alive. We are terrified as we consider what conditions they might be living under. Syria refuses to divulge any information. To the families, each day is a lifetime. To Klal Yisrael, the loss of even one brother makes us incomplete as Jacob's family. With the whereabouts of four Jewish sons unknown, we are indeed inconsolable.
Ron Arad has been a prisoner of war since 1986, believed held by the Iranians somewhere in Lebanon. Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Tzvi Feldman have been missing in action somewhere in Syria since 1982. Guy Chever, an Israeli soldier who disappeared in the Golan Heights, has been missing since 1997. Elchanan Tannenbaum was kidnapped by Hezbollah on October 15, 2000 and no information as to his condition or whereabouts has been given.
Our hearts and condolences go out to the Avraham, Avitan and Souad families who recently observed the shiva period for their sons Benny, Adi and Omar who were kidnapped by Hezbollah on October 7, 2000 and murdered by their captors. May Hashem comfort them amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
We ask our members to observe Shabbat Ne'edarei Tzahal for Shabbat Parashat VaYeishev until they are released. The attached information and sources have been prepared to help you formulate a program for this special Shabbat. They should be duplicated and distributed to your members as you see fit. We hope that you will join with our member synagogues across the country in observing Shabbat Ne'edarei Tzahal. In this merit may HaKadosh Baruch Hu return them to us in good health soon.
Richard B. Stone Betty Ehrenberg
Chairman Director, International and Communal Affairs
Where
are your Israeli Soldiers?
|
