By Larry Hankin & Rabbi Hillel Goldberg
Four hundred people gathered at two heartfelt events on behalf of the three teens kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists in Israel, June 12. As of press time, they had not been found.
The first event was an extended recitation of Psalms, beseeching G-d for His grace and help. The second event was a vigil, expressing pain and unity in song and speech.
The recitation of Psalms was held at EDOS, Sunday evening, June 22. Rabbi Tzvi Steinberg of Zera Abraham led the responsive recitation.
The event was sponsored by Aish Denver, Bais Menachem, DAT Minyan, DAT school, Denver Communit Kollel, EDOS, Hillel Academy Kehilath Bais Yisroel, Mercaz Torah Vechesed, The Jewish Experience and Yeshiva Toras Chaim.
The event was organized and introduced by Shlomo Fried, with brief introductory remarks by Rabbi Asher Klein, DAT Minyan; and Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Intermountain Jewish News.
Approximately 200 people gathered at the Loup JCC, Tuesday, June 24, for a vigil organized by JEWISHcolorado and the JCRC.
It was co-sponsored by the Loup JCC, Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council, ADL and AIPAC.
Read related IJN blog posting, “Examples good and bad of Jewish advocacy“
JCRC Chair Jacki Cooper Melmed opened the program, stating, We are heartbroken, as individuals and as a community. As the mother of two teenage boys, Melmed, on a personal level, reocognizes the pain of the parents of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel.
Israel Consul General in Los Angeles David Siegel addressed the gathering via teleconference. We really shouldnt be here tonight.
Siegel said the wait to learn about the boys well being has been agonizing: We are now facing our third holy Sabbath without knowing of their whereabouts.
The consul general noted the solidarity of worldwide Jewry in support of the boys and their families and in outrage toward the kidnapping itself.
Siegel called on the Palestinian Authority to reject its pact with Hamas and disarm this terror organization.
Rabbi Joe Black, president of the RMRC, and rabbi of Temple Emanuel, read a prayer written by the Progressive movement in Israel, and led the gathering in the singing of Naomi Shemers Lu Yehi (Let it Be.)
The JCC Israeli shaliach Yoni Alon said the kidnapping is most painful for two reasons: They are teenagers, and they are not soldiers, rather civilian boys who were on their way home from school.
ADL National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher just returned from leading an ADL mission to Israel which was punctuated by the kidnapping. It became a thread of the whole trip. The theme, he said, was not right or left, not religious or secular, but these are our boys.
Recitation of a psalm on behalf of the kidnapped teens was led by Cantor Joel Lichterman before the BMH-BJ annual meeting, Monday evening, June 23.
A video was shown.
Copyright © 2014 by the Intermountain Jewish News
