FREE THEM TODAY!!!
| TO: |
World Synagogue Leadership |
|
|
| FROM: |
Richard B. Stone, Chairman
Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International Affairs and Communal Relations |
|
|
| DATE: |
November 1998 |
Shabbat VaYeshev - Shabbat Ne'edarei
Tzahal
December 12, 1998 - 23 Kislev, 5759
Dear Rabbi & Synagogue Leader,
Parashat VaYeshev relates the story of Mechirat Yosef,
the casting out of one Jewish brother, a tragic episode in Jewish History.
 Just as our father Jacob wondered about the wherabouts and safety of his son
Yosef, for the past 16 years, we have been torn apart by the question of whether the four
Jewish sons, our lost Israeli soldiers who are missing-in-action, are still alive or under
what conditions they are being held captive.
Our Rabbis have taught us that the mitzvah of Pidyon
Shivuyim, of redeeming the captive, is a mitzvah of the highest priority and supersedes
many of our precepts.
The Syrians and the Iranians are considered
responsible; Syria for the whereabouts of Zachary Baumel (who is an American citizen as
well as an Israeli), Yehuda Katz, and
Tzvi Feldman, missing since 1982, and Iran for Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad who
has been missing since 1986.
On June 11th, 1982, a battle raged in the Bekaa Valley in Northern Lebanon between an
Israeli tank unit and a Syrian armored unit. As a result of this battle, three Israeli
soldiers were reported missing in action and are still unaccounted for. They are Sergeant
Zachary Baumel, First Sergeant Tzvi
Feldman, and Corporal Yehuda Katz.
On October 16th, 1986, Captain Ron Arad, a navigator of an Israel Air Force Phantom
parachuted to safety from a stricken aircraft. He landed in Southern Lebanon and was
immediately captured by the Iranian Amal militia. To the
best of our knowledge, Arad is still being held by the Iranians somewhere in Lebanon.
We ask our members and friens to observe Shabbatot Ne'edaei Tzahal on Parashat VaYeshev
untill our four sons are released. A compilation booklet, filled with material for prayer
and activisim has been put together by the IPA. Please contact Betty Ehrenberg at (212) 613-8124 to get a copy for your
congregation.
We urge you to use this Shabbat to help spread a
special message to your fellow congregants and ask them to mobilize to help bring about
the release of any information about our missing soldiers.
Rabbis should include the issue of Pidyon Shivuyim in
their drashot.
A special "mishebayrach" for the MIAs,
available from the IPA may be recited.
Please place an empty chair on the bimah of your synagogue with a sign marked with one of
the names of the Israeli MIA's. This will serve as a poignant reminder to us that there
are some Israeli families who have not seen their children in more than sixteen years.
Letters should be sent to President Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and to
Senators and Representatives, urging them to raise this issue as Israel, the Middle East,
and the peace process are discussed in the many congressional committees.
United States Senators and Representatives need to hear
from their constituents on this matter in order to make sure that it is paid sufficient
attention. A sample letter is attached.
Please feel free to call us at (212) 613-8123 if you have
any questions, or need more information or materials.
Tizku L'mitzvot. May you and your loved ones be inscribed and sealed for a sweet and
healthy New Year.
|