All Israel has come together in prayers for the safe return of the three teenagers who were kidnapped this past week. Everyone has an opinion (or three) and the papers are full of theories, but the fact is we still have no idea where they may be.
What is known is that the two sixteen year olds, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel, were on the way home from their yeshiva around 22:00pm. An Israeli reported that he stopped for them, but was not going thier way. He left them at the hitchhiking post in Kfar Etzion. Nineteen year old Eyal Yifrach met up with them there, and it is believed the three teens either got into a vehicle willingly, or were forced.
The Jewish Press reported that the car used for the abduction was found, along with some personal belongings of the boys. The cell phone of one of the teens was also found.
To Clarify~Those Claiming the Teens Should Not Have Taken a Ride: The bus system in Israel stinks! Even in the cities it is a nightmare and service does not run late in the evenings. In Israel there is a 115% tax on cars, fuel costs average $6.50 per gallon, and don't even ask about insurance and safety tests! Owning a car is like taking a mortgage in North America...The place where the boys were waiting for a ride is a common "trempiadot"~a site where people wait to catch a ride. For most, this is the only way to get around.
What Can We Do to Help?
Those who are believers know the power of prayer and this is something eveyone world wide is capable of. Indeed, all Israel has been praying constantly. We ask that you include the three teens in your prayers. In addition, please pray for the safety of those who are searching day and night to "Bring Our Boys Home"
The Chief Rabbis in Israel have asked that as we light candles on Shabbat, we light one extra candle for the teens and recite Psalm 83, 121, 130 and 142. They are printed below for your convenience. The names to recite are:
Eyal ben Iris Teshurah (Eyal Yifrach~19)
Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim (Gilad Shaar~16)
Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah (Naftali Frenkel~16)
Whatever your prayers, and whenever you pray, please keep the three boys in mind. God answers prayer, and he is not fussy about form or style~only that it comes from the heart!
Two popular Israeli singers immediately released a song, Bring Back Our Boys. In it are scenes from the prayers held at the Kotel (Western Wall), Judaism's Holiest site, and across Israel. Please Join Us And Pray...
Bring Back Our Boys~Gad Elbaz and Naftali Kalfa~גד אלבז ונפתלי כלפה~ושבו בנים לגבולם
For Those Who Wish to Pray Psalms:
Psalm 83
1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.
Psalm 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Psalm 142
1 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.
2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5 I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
