(JTA) — The Conservative, Orthodox and Reform movements offered prayers for the safe return of the three kidnapped Israeli teenagers.
“We join with our Israeli brothers and sisters, our Jewish brethren around the world, and concerned governments and NGOs in condemning the kidnapping of three innocent students,” Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly, said in a statement. “We join with millions of others in praying for their safe return.”
The Rabbinical Assembly also issued a prayer for the safe return of the teens, who were abducted on June 12.
The Orthodox Union and its youth group, the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, in partnership with the Bnei Akiva youth group and the Rabbinical Council of America, launched a virtual vigil, a 24/7 schedule of learning, prayer and mitzvot.
Anat Hoffman, director of the Reform movement’s Israel Religious Action Center, wrote an email saying in part, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Frenkel. We are praying for their safe, quick, and peaceful return.”
A prayer for the teens’ safe return written by Alden Solovy was posted on the blog of the Reform Judaism website.
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