March 29, 2007

The Jewish Agency for Israel is urging Jews to say a special prayer on Passover for three captive Israeli soldiers. Cpl. Gilad Shalit was abducted by Palestinian gunmen in June; Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were captured by Hezbollah the following month.

Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski, Habanim -- an organization devoted to the soldiers' release -- and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar wrote letters in which they enclosed a prayer written by Amar and a chapter of Psalms. Bielski wrote that Passover is an especially poignant time in this situation, as it "commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery to freedom."

The prayer can be found at www.jewishagency.org and www.habanim.org.