Three captives – and three candles: An emotionally moving Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony was held Sunday evening at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The ceremony was attended by the kidnapped soldiers' families, Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich, Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson and other public figures. The ceremony is the first in a series of events held worldwide during Hanukkah – the holiday of lights – aimed at supporting the families and sharing in prayer for their safe return.
Ehud Goldwasser's father, Shlomo, spoke on behalf of the captives' families: "For five months now Udi and Eldad have been held captive by Hizbullah, while Gilad has been held captive by Hamas for more than six months. I do not recall that they were visited by any official body, or the Red Cross.
"They were not captured in any provocation or following an offense, but were kidnapped from inside the State of Israel in an act of terror. No information has been received so far regarding Udi and Eldad. Regarding Gilad, only vague information has been received," he said.
Over 20,000 people from around the world have joined Goldwasser's call by lighting a Candle of Hope ;a joint project of Ynetnews, the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization.