Watch a message from Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer, then read below to learn how you can help:
An important Letter from Daniel Victor, vice president of the Hadar Goldin Foundation:
I’m writing on behalf of Leah and Simha Goldin with a request for]Jewish American voters to support our efforts to obtain the return of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul for proper burial in Israel and to free Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed from captivity by Hamas in Gaza.
For the last seven years, we have been struggling to obtain the return of Hadar and Oron, and though it has been a long and heart-breaking road for us, we feel, for the first time in a long time, hopeful that the political situation is moving in a positive direction. The Biden Administration is in the process of restoring and increasing levels of humanitarian and economic development aid to the Palestinians. More importantly, an additional substantial aid package specifically for the rebuilding Gaza is reportedly making its way through Congress. We are proposing that any US aid packages earmarked for the reconstruction of Gaza be expressly conditioned on the return of Hadar, Oron, Aveera and Hisham to Israel and their families as a non-negotiable pre-condition to the award of such aid. The Gaza package would be awarded only after Hamas returns the Israeli fallen soldiers and the civilians as a first step, a confidence building gesture.
It is important that Congressional Representatives and Senators understand that the return of Israel’s fallen soldiers and captive citizens is top-of-mind to American Jewish voters. For the last seven years, the OU has been a staunch supporter and partner of the Goldin family in their efforts to obtain the return of Hadar to Israel for proper burial, and we are hopeful that you will join us in this latest campaign. We are asking for your assistance in getting the word out to your members, friends and affiliated organizations through social media, your own websites and your list-serve.
This link highlights the issues outlined above, and enables your constituents to easily contact their Representatives and Senators.
The words of this author reflect his/her own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Orthodox Union.