The two-day-old search continues for the toddler Hodayah Kedem-Fimshtein. She was last seen late Saturday morning in her father's home in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat HaYovel. The thousands of volunteer searchers from all over the country have been joined by 150 Jewish Agency workers, hundreds of new immigrants from absorption centers, 140 Civil Guard workers from the south, and many more. At the same time, in the case of the missing 5-year-old girl - Nur Abu Tir - from an Arab village east of Jerusalem, police are turning their attention to a family feud and relatives who may have been involved in her abduction - though the search for her goes on as well.
Rabbi David Simchon, the neighborhood rabbi of Kiryat HaYovel and the man responsible for security and emergency measures in the Jerusalem municipality, told Arutz-7 this morning:
"The searches have expanded to nearby neighborhoods, but basically we are clueless and have nothing pointing in any specific direction. I can say, however, that in times of trouble such as these, when a little girl disappears, all of Am Yisrael comes out to help, from every sector… There is no stone that has not been overturned twice… The criminal angle is also being investigated…"
Regarding a letter allegedly written to the child by her father about their souls meeting soon in heaven, Rabbi Simchon said, "I have not seen such a letter, nor has anyone here. I think it is just a rumor." The police, too, attribute no importance to the allegations of a letter.
The parents have jointly promised a "very respectable monetary award" and no punishment to whomever returns the child or provides clear information leading to her safe return. The girl's mother said that she has absolutely no suspicions that her former husband would hurt their child. Rabbi Simchon said that the parents are "wonderful people, who are in tremendous sorrow..." He said that a prayer ceremony is planned for tomorrow: "We agreed with the parents that even if their daughter is found, the prayers will be held as a thanksgiving ceremony, and if not, then it will be a prayer for her welfare and safety."
Rabbi David Simchon, the neighborhood rabbi of Kiryat HaYovel and the man responsible for security and emergency measures in the Jerusalem municipality, told Arutz-7 this morning:
"The searches have expanded to nearby neighborhoods, but basically we are clueless and have nothing pointing in any specific direction. I can say, however, that in times of trouble such as these, when a little girl disappears, all of Am Yisrael comes out to help, from every sector… There is no stone that has not been overturned twice… The criminal angle is also being investigated…"
Regarding a letter allegedly written to the child by her father about their souls meeting soon in heaven, Rabbi Simchon said, "I have not seen such a letter, nor has anyone here. I think it is just a rumor." The police, too, attribute no importance to the allegations of a letter.
The parents have jointly promised a "very respectable monetary award" and no punishment to whomever returns the child or provides clear information leading to her safe return. The girl's mother said that she has absolutely no suspicions that her former husband would hurt their child. Rabbi Simchon said that the parents are "wonderful people, who are in tremendous sorrow..." He said that a prayer ceremony is planned for tomorrow: "We agreed with the parents that even if their daughter is found, the prayers will be held as a thanksgiving ceremony, and if not, then it will be a prayer for her welfare and safety."