Dear Friends,

Today is a day of crisis for Israel and the Jewish people.

As President of the World Jewish Congress, I urge you, and the members of your communities, to please join me in prayers for Second Lt. Goldin (Hadar ben Chedva Leah) of Kfar Saba, who was apparently kidnapped today by Hamas after the start of a humanitarian cease-fire.

The apparent kidnapping is an outrageous violation of the cease-fire and is drawing strong condemnation from the Obama Administration and other governments worldwide. As the White House has said, this act is barbaric, and the international community must exert its influence on Hamas to return the soldier immediately.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement: “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s attack, which led to the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the apparent abduction of another. It was an outrageous violation of the cease-fire negotiated over the past several days, and of the assurances given to the United States and the United Nations. Hamas, which has security control over the Gaza Strip, must immediately and unconditionally release the missing Israeli soldier, and I call on those with influence over Hamas to reinforce this message.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a statement that “Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza would bear the consequences of their acts.”

At this crucial time, I send out this Call to Action asking that you mobilize and activate political and diplomatic channels in your respective countries and urge your governments and international institutions to help bring about the immediate release of Second Lt. Hadar Goldin.

Please spread this message to your friends, neighbors, and the community at large. Shabbat Shalom.

Sincerely,

 Ronald S. Lauder

President

World Jewish Congress