December 20, 2006 / 29 Kislev 5767

“Candles of Hope” Campaign launched by Jewish Agency and Ynet News during the Hanukah holiday.

NEW YORK, December 19, 2006— Thus far, over 34,000 people from around the world have lit virtual Hanukah candles in solidarity with Israel’s abducted soldiers, in a campaign launched by the Jewish Agency, Ynet News and the World Zionist Organization.

As part of a Hanukah campaign aimed at drawing attention to the plight of the kidnapped soldiers, the families of Eldad Regev, Ehud Goldwaser and Gilad Shalit lit Hanukah candles on Sunday (December 17) at the Western Wall in honor of their sons.

Simultaneously, Jewish communities around the world held similar candle lighting ceremonies.

As of 1 pm today (Tuesday December 19, Eastern time), 34,200 people lit virtual candles on the Ynet news website, five days since the launch of the “Candles of Hope” campaign on the first night of Hanukah (Friday, December 15).

The Jewish Agency encourages everyone to participate in the “Candles of Hope” campaign by lighting a virtual candle at the Ynet news website, www.ynetnews.com  (click on Candles of Hope) or directly at http://my.ynet.co.il/jewishagency/defaultEng.asp. The tally of candles lit is continuously updated on the webpage and the campaign will continue through the end of the Hanukah holiday.

According to Zeev Beilski, Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency, the campaign “is aimed at uniting all Jewish people in Israel and worldwide and all advocates of freedom from among all nations to light a Chanukah candle, as a sign of solidarity with the kidnapped sons, and as personal and moral support with the struggle of their families and of the Government of Israel for their release and swift return.”

For more information, contact:
Jacob Dallal
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Jewish Agency for Israel – North America
633 Third Ave., 21st floor, New York, NY 10017
Phone: 1-212-339-6064
Mobile: 1-646-644-1205
E-mail: jacobd@jafi.org