Zurich, Switzerland
Photo: Oren Agmon
Gilad Shalit. 1,457 days in captivity
Reproduction photo: Amit Magal
Zurich churches to turn off lights for Shalit
At least two cathedrals in Switzerland to turn off lights for several minutes on Wednesday evening in solidarity with kidnapped Israeli soldier
At least two large churches in the Swiss city of Zurich will turn off their lights for five to 10 minutes this Wednesday at 11 pm (local time) in solidarity with kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit,
marking the beginning of his fifth year in Hamas
captivity.
Edward M. Rosenstein, president of the Augustin Keller Lodge of the B'nai B'rith organization in Switzerland and one of the move's initiators, told Ynet that Jewish morals were what made Zurich's Jews join the efforts for Shalit's release.
The move was initiated by several Jewish organizations in Switzerland. The Grossmünster and Fraumünster cathedrals have agreed to cooperate with the Jewish initiative, and the organizers are now waiting for the agreement of the city's oldest church, St. Peter, which has the largest clock face in Europe – with a diameter of 8.7 meters.
4 Years On
Family members distribute pictures of Gilad Shalit on internet and social networks in format of police missing persons notices. 'Goal is for everyone to print it out at home and hang them on notice boards, electricity poles, bus stops,' says campaign activist
"We want to remind everyone that Gilad has been a prisoner for four years now, and we would also like to raise the Swiss government's awareness to work for his sake. At the designated hour quite a few people will be present in the area, as well as many media outlets."
Rosenstein said he had not encountered any hostile sentiments towards the initiative. "We organized the program at very short notice. We hope to raise the public's awareness for Gilad."
Initial information received via Red Email
