Midnight update: The boy has been found, live and well.
The hundreds of volunteers, who in typically caring Israeli fashion had aided police, emergency services, family and friends to search for the missing boy, joined them in a collective sigh of relief and thanks to the Almighty .
The story: Law enforcement officials and search and rescue personnel have expressed deep concern for the life of a child from the community of Ofra in Samaria, who disappeared during a Chanukah hike with his family Wednesday.
Nitzan Cohen, age 8, was hiking with his family in the Jerusalem-area Burma Forest when he disappeared.
Walking in a portion of the forest called Rabin Park, Nitzan's parents suddenly realized he was not walking with them, and contacted local police. Teams of volunteers from Zaka emergency medical services, Hatzolah medical services, Beit Shemesh and Harel police and ordinary citizens are searching for the boy. Police helicopters and assorted off-road vehicles are also combing the area.
As the hours pass, worry for the boy increases, as the area is mountainous and full of pits which pose serious hazards for him.
Police have requested that Nitzan's description be published – he is almost four feet tall, with a full build, short brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin, and long sidelocks. He was last seen wearing a green and yellow hooded sweatshirt and light blue pants. Under his sweatshirt he is wearing a shirt with the name of the Frankel school written on the back.
Anyone with information about the boy's whereabouts is asked to call 100, the police emergency number, the Harel police, or any other police station. Police also say they can use all the volunteers they can get. Those interested in joining the search should call 052-790-6092.