Baltimore Jewish Community Ties Three Ribbons for Three Missing Students

By: Eli Kaufman

Local leaders gathered at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC this morning to show their support for the three students captured by Hamas in the West Bank.  The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, in conjunction with the Embassy of Israel, launched a local #YellowRibbons4OurBoys campaign.  The campaign, which was initially launched by the Ambassador to Israel, has been endorsed by Tony Orlando, singer of the popular hit, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree,” as well as several Congressmen. 

Linda A. Hurwitz, incoming chair-elect of the Associated, Jason Blavatt, incoming chair of the Baltimore Israel Coalition and Lainy LeBow-Sachs, president of the Baltimore Jewish Council, officially kicked-off the Baltimore effort, tying three yellow ribbons around the sign posts at the JCC.  Area Jewish agencies, synagogues, Jewish day schools and community organizations are also participating in this local campaign. In addition, Hurwitz called for the community to stand together and show support for Gilad Sha’ar, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frankel, who were kidnapped on June 12, 2014. 

In the 10 days since the students were captured, Israel has taken action in order to find the students.  Operation Brother’s Keeper is a 24/7 process to return the boys home to their families. 

Get Involved

The Associated encourages everyone to take part in this campaign by tying their own ribbons around trees or other posts at their homes.  Ribbons can be picked up at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC as well as the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC.  Hurwitz said it is important for the community to show “solidarity and support.”