— The families of Israeli crewmen missing from the bulk carrier Mezada which sank in the North Atlantic near Bermuda on March 8 were advised by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren to begin the traditional week of mourning as of yesterday. The families were notified that the men could be presumed dead after the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ended a five day sea-air search last Thursday without recovering additional bodies or survivors.
Of the 35 persons aboard the ship when she foundered, II were rescued, 12 were known to have drowned and 12 were missing. Goren instructed the families of men whose bodies were recovered and returned to Israel to begin the mourning period directly after the funerals. The Mezada carried a mixed crew of Israelis and other nationalities. It was not immediately known how many, if any, of those lost were non-Israelis.
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