The family of 24-year-old Kasriel Nachman Keinan from Beit Shemesh is increasingly concerned for his safety after he disappeared about a week ago in the Galilee region.
Police, rescue forces and volunteers are conducting extensive searches for Keinan, while his family fears he may have fallen victim to a criminal incident or kidnapping.
Keinan was last seen on Monday, August 10, at around 6 p.m.in Tverya, while he was reportedly on his way to Tzfat for an urgent meeting with his rabbi.
His father, Yossi Keinan , filed an official complaint at the Beit Shemesh police station and described the circumstances surrounding his son's disappearance. "I saw him for the last time at the entrance to a synagogue. He told me he was going to pop over to a friend and then he didn't come back," he told Channel 12.
The father said the rabbi later confirmed that Keinanhad reached Tzfat and spoke with him by phone at around 10 p.m. However, the rabbi suggested postponing their meeting until the following morning because of a family matter.
"I was still able to talk to him the next morning, but he said the phone battery was about to run out. Since then, his trail has gone cold," Keinan 's father said.
He said the circumstances have raised particular concern. "I fear they kidnapped my son. This is a dangerous area. It's not that he just vanished and didn't get in touch. Maybe someone kidnapped him."
As part of the investigation, officers from the Beit Shemesh police station have been working with Northern District units. Security camera footage from businesses in Tiberias was located showing Keinan walking toward the Sea of Galilee.
Police forces and divers have been conducting extensive searches in the Sea of Galilee and along nearby routes. So far, however, no indication of Keinan 's whereabouts has been found.
Keinan , a Chabad Hasid who previously lived in the Philippines for several years before returning to Israel, is approximately 1.74 meters tall, with black hair, a beard, and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a white shirt, black suit, and fedora. He was carrying a black backpack and a dark brown tefillin bag.
The Israel Dog Unit, under the command of Yekutiel Ben Yaakov, is also participating in the search. Its teams have conducted extensive searches in the Tveria area, using specially trained scent-detection dogs and drones. On Tuesday, IDU teams completed additional terrain sectors as part of the ongoing effort to locate Keinan .
"We are praying and believe that Nahman is alive," his father said. "We hope the police and the many volunteers will find him soon. He is the light of our lives."
The Israel Dog Unit is likewise appealing to the public to help circulate Keinan 's photograph.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts or who may be able to assist with the search is asked to contact the Israel Police emergency hotline at 100 or the Beit Shemesh police station.