October 5, 2006 / 13 Tishrei 5767
"Dear Gilad Shalit, We hope you are well and that you will make it home soon. We think about you, Shana Tova from Cincinnati!"
More than 200 of local Cincinnati Jewish elementary school students from Hebrew Day School, Wise Reform Elementary School and the Jewish Religious School at Hamilton have made Rosh Hashana cards for kidnapped Israeli soldiers Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwaser. It is the children’s hope that these cards will be delivered to the soldiers in captivity by the American Red Cross - a task that is, of course, easier said than done.
Over 2 months ago the Israeli Soldiers were kidnapped by terrorists while in their own country. While their plight is no on the front pages of papers around the world, these soldiers have not been forgotten. They remain on the minds and in the hearts of millions of people around the world, including the children.
Rosh Hashana is one of the most significant holidays for Jewish people. It is the Jewish New Year and exchanging cards is a tradition among Israelis and Jewish people around the world. Out of crayon and construction paper, the children created messages of hope and love: hope for the soldiers’ immediate release, hope that they are alive, hope that someday they will reunite with their families and love for the soldiers, Israel and Her People.
The cards also carry the message of understanding and respect. The children, some as young as seven years old, constructed the cards to open from left to right and used Hebrew when they could- knowing at their tender ages how much their efforts to create cards that would remind the soldiers of their own home and culture- would mean.
The cards were sent to the International Red-Cross in Geneva, with the request of having them delivered to the soldiers. The initiative was covered in local and regional media channels.
Amir Yarchi
Community Shaliach
The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
4050 Executive Park Drive, suite 300
Cincinnati, OH 45241
(513) 985-1535
*Only low resolution photos available.