Monsey Atzeres For Abducted Bachurim at Stadium Today

Concerned for the fate of the three abducted yeshivah bachurim in Israel, Rockland County Jews will unite in tefillah Thursday afternoon at a massive stadium gathering.

The hour-long program at the Rockland Boulders Stadium, off Exit 12 of the Palisades Parkway, begins with Minchah at 8:10 p.m. and concludes with Maariv at 9:00. After Minchah will be the recital of Tehillim for Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, who were kidnapped by Hamas-affiliated terrorists last Thursday night.

Gates to the stadium, which seats about 4,250, will open at 7:00.

Meanwhile, a host of local elected officials held a press conference in Manhattan Wednesday to denounce the abductions, demanding that the terrorists “bring back our boys.”

“What happened to these boys was horrific and unacceptable. It was a brazen crime and
was horrific and unacceptable. It was a brazen crime and
an act of terrorism,” said Comptroller Scott Stringer, who organized the event outside the Municipal Building, according to The New York Observer. “We are united with Israel — we demand these boys be returned home swiftly.”

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-Harlem), who sports a longtime pro-Israel record, placed blame for the kidnapping on the Palestinian government.

“You don’t have to be Jewish to understand what it’s like when someone for political reasons snatches and holds your children hostage,” Rangel said. “I don’t care what country you come from that if you can see and talk with people that will stoop this low to prove a political point, then you can see the credibility they will have on any issue.”

“It’s up to the Palestinians to avoid not taking full responsibility for it. It is they who have made arrangements with Hamas,” he said. “…If you cannot control the boys in the backroom, you’re not credible to sit down and reach any agreement.”

A similar event was held at the West Side Monday evening, sponsored by several local shuls and groups, as well as by Councilman Mark Levine, who chairs the council’s Jewish caucus.

Thousands also participated on a Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation Tehillim teleconference on Sunday night.

This article appeared in print on page 1 of the June 19th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.