Praying for the kidnapped students, Kotel
Praying for the kidnapped students, KotelFlash90

Approximately 700 schools and kindergartens across Israel will stop at 11:30 AM for half an hour to hold a mass prayer for the safety of the three yeshiva students kidnapped by Palestinian Arab terrorists on Sunday. 

The main prayer gathering will be held at the Mekor Haim yeshiva - at which two of the teens were students - with the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rosh Yeshiva (dean) Rabbi Dov Singer and the heads of state-religious education in Israel all taking part.

The Israel weekend begins Friday and ends Saturday; the schools will be pausing their regular schedules specifically in order to take part in the nationwide prayers.

Rabbi Dr. Avraham Lifshitz, head of religious education, said that "at this difficult time, along with all of Israel, we are all praying for their release and success of Naftali, Gilad and Eyal - our students, our precious children."

The Rabbi urges the general public to join them in prayer for the boys. 

Since Thursday, the public has been asked to pray for the kidnapped students, named as Ya'akov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah, Eyal ben Iris T'shura, and Gil'ad Micha'el ben Bat-Galim.

A mass prayer rally, in conjunction with major religious and political leaders, will be held Sunday at 7:00 pm at the Western Wall. Arutz Sheva will provide a live broadcast of the event. 

Prayer rallies have taken place throughout the country already, including at the Kotel and in Hevron, where the boys are believed to be held by terrorists.