July 17, 2008 / 14 Tammuz 5768

The Jewish communities around the world are in solidarity with the families of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

The Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization publicize an internet site including comprehensive information on the two soldiers and prayers for their souls.

Among the Jewish communities around the world there is deep sympathy for the families of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, and the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization, in coordination with the National Information Directorate of the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry, has put together an internet information site for the heads of the Jewish communities and Jewish organizations around the world. The site – called the "Final Farewell" -- includes comprehensive information on the soldiers, prayers for their souls and educational and PR activities. The kit is also intended to emphasize to the world the horrible crimes of the child murderer Samir Kuntar in contrast to the celebrations of joy in Lebanon.

In a special letter on the site, the Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski calls on heads of the Jewish communities to hold commemoration ceremonies and pray for the souls of Udi and Eldad. Bielski notes that the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization, together with Jewish communities around the world, have stood by the Regev and Goldwasser families in their struggle for the release of the soldiers, and will continue to rally public opinion in the struggle for the release of Gilad Shalit.

The site is in response to requests from many heads of communities for information, and includes pictures and power-point presentations on the soldiers and details of the abduction of Eldad and Udi, including detailed maps of the area and the responses of the families to the government decision on the prisoner exchange. In addition, it includes special prayers for the souls of the soldiers, information on the commandments of redeeming captives and the mutual responsibility of the Jewish People, plus additional educational material. There are also details of the brutal murders committed by Samir Kuntar against the Haran family in Nahariya in 1979.

According to Amos Hermon, member of the Zionist Executive responsible for hasbara in the Jewish Agency, the material is intended to emphasize throughout the world the contrast between the "victory" celebrations of a malicious child-murderer and the deep grief of the soldiers' families. The kit will also enable Jews around the world to pray and hold memorial ceremonies for the two soldiers.

The address of the site is: www.abducted.org.il