Bring back our Boys

From the NY Post Bring back Our Boys

In an effort to heighten awareness of the plight of kidnapped Naftali, Eyal and Gilad , Young Israel of the West Side Rabbi Dovid Cohen has paid for a giant electronic ad in Times Square.

It says:
“On June 12th, 2014, three teenage boys were kidnapped in Israel, one of them an American citizen. These boys are not soldiers. They are not fighters. They are not violent. These boys are our sons. Our brothers. Our grandchildren. Our nephews. Our friends. Please help create global awareness.”

What is your community doing?

Bring back our boys. Eyal, Gilad and Naftali in our hearts

Yakov Naftali ben Rachel
Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim
Eyal ben Sarah

Last Monday, an Amber Alert was issued in the Bay Area. Television programing was interrupted. Messages were automatically left on cell phones.  Highway signs lit up with the names of the victims. The three children, ages 12, 6 and 2 were eventually found, though for a moment, time stood still as we all examined our surroundings, looking for anything that might help reunite these children with their family.  We cherish our children and we've learned from our mistakes regarding childhood abductions.

Contrast that with the reaction of Palestinians in West Bank upon learning of the kidnapping of 3 Israeli teens, 2 16 years old, and one 19. Appeals were distributed throughout social media  admonishing shopkeepers to destroy any  surveillance video they  had from the last 24 hours, rather than have it used to aid in the recovery of the boys. Sweets were gleefully distributed. The mood was unabashedly celebratory.  Those with knowledge of the kidnapping were warned not to share photos or info on Twitter and Facebook. The community joined together- not to ensure the safety of the boys, but to protect the criminals.

Even the Electronic Intifada got in on the action, with one of their writers  tweeting "Wonderful wonderful news that three settlers have been kidnapped"

There are no words for the evil that committed this act, and for the evil that has excused it, rationalized it, defended it, and covered for it.

Keep Eyal, Gilad and Naftali and their families in your heart and your prayers