Last Monday, at a vigil and ceremony organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, Jewish and general community leaders gathered in support of the demand, “FREE the Soldiers,” referring to the three Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped one year ago by Hezbollah and Hamas. The soldiers are Gilad Shalit, Udi Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Leonard Frankel, president of the JCRC, expressed appreciation to the 19 major Jewish organizations under its umbrella, who are united in demanding that the kidnapped IDF soldiers be freed unconditionally, and also expressed appreciation to local, state and federal officials who join in the effort, and who were either present or represented at the vigil. Batya Abramson-Goldstein, executive director of the JCRC, said, “This marks a year that they’ve been taken into captivity. They were cruelly kidnapped from Israeli soil. This is unacceptable and their families live with the cruel fact of their absence everyday. We need to stop once in awhile and say we care and keep them in our minds and hearts.” Other speakers included Douglas Copeland, immediate past president of the Missouri Bar, who had visited the Goldwasser family while on a trip to Israel with Frankel last year, and Joseph C. White, CEO of the American Red Cross of St. Louis. White pointed out that Hezbollah and Hamas have refused to permit the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit the kidnapped soldiers to determine their status, health and living conditions. Dr. Andy David, Deputy Counsel General of Israel for the Midwest, also addressed the gathering, as did Jewish Federation President Dr. Heschel Raskas. Miranda Duncan, special assistant to St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, read out an official County Executive’s Proclamation joining in the demand for the release of the IDF soldiers.

Leonard Frankel, president of the JCRC, expressed appreciation to the 19 major Jewish organizations under its umbrella, who are united in demanding that the kidnapped IDF soldiers be freed unconditionally, and also expressed appreciation to local, state and federal officials who join in the effort, and who were either present or represented at the vigil. Batya Abramson-Goldstein, executive director of the JCRC, said, “This marks a year that they’ve been taken into captivity. They were cruelly kidnapped from Israeli soil. This is unacceptable and their families live with the cruel fact of their absence everyday. We need to stop once in awhile and say we care and keep them in our minds and hearts.” Other speakers included Douglas Copeland, immediate past president of the Missouri Bar, who had visited the Goldwasser family while on a trip to Israel with Frankel last year, and Joseph C. White, CEO of the American Red Cross of St. Louis. White pointed out that Hezbollah and Hamas have refused to permit the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit the kidnapped soldiers to determine their status, health and living conditions. Dr. Andy David, Deputy Counsel General of Israel for the Midwest, also addressed the gathering, as did Jewish Federation President Dr. Heschel Raskas. Miranda Duncan, special assistant to St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, read out an official County Executive’s Proclamation joining in the demand for the release of the IDF soldiers.