A Card For Gilad

by Justin Cohen - Thursday 11th September 2008


The father of Gilad Shalit this week called on Jewish News readers to join a nationwide campaign to send Rosh Hashanah cards to his son, as the kidnapped Israeli soldier faces the possibility of a third New Year in captivity.

While the start of 5769 will be celebrated later this month with joyous family gatherings across the globe, for the Shalits, the simple dream of once again sitting around the dinner table as a complete unit remains painfully elusive.

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In the 800 days since Gilad's capture, the only signs of life have come from a voice recording and two letters from the 22-year-old.

But today, with Rosh Hashanah fast approaching, Jewish News is throwing its weight behind an initiative to send thousands of New Year cards to Gilad, in the hope that such a display of communal support will show him that he remains in the community's prayers.

"Sending Rosh Hashanah messages to my son with the hope of reaching him means a great deal to my family and I hope all Jewish News readers will take part in this great initiative," Noam Shalit said this week as he prepared to join hundreds of well-wishers from France, Israel and the UK at a major London event aimed at highlighting his son's plight.

In addition to our card - created by last year's Jewish News Rosh Hashanah design competition co-winner Hadassa Roth - the Zionist Federation has produced 2,000 postcards for community members to sign. These are being distributed at various events held by the organisation in the coming days. It is hoped that the greetings will be passed to Gilad with the help of the Red Cross in Israel.

Only last week, Hamas pledged to pass a note from Noam to Gilad, boosting hopes that the Rosh Hashanah greetings could also reach their intended destination.

Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor told the Jewish News: "After two and a half years in captivity, Gilad Shalit is uppermost in the thoughts of all Israelis and Jews around the world. Sending a card is an excellent way for members of this community to demonstrate their concern, sympathy and solidarity with the Shalit family. The whole of Israel is, for now, like a family missing a son."

The idea for the cards campaign originally came from activist Rona Hart, who was inspired by her involvement in the National Campaign for Soviet Jewry. She said: "One of the prisoners of conscience told me, after he was freed, that they knew when they got cards it meant one less beating that day or a little extra food. It was a great help to them to know that people on the outside cared and were trying to help."

She added: "Sending cards to Gilad Shalit is an absolutely great gesture, that will certainly hearten his family."

Having urged celebrants at a family barmitzvah last weekend to sign cards for Gilad, she suggested that those with other simchahs coming up follow suit.
The Jewish News and ZF cards, along with any others that individuals send to the Israeli Embassy, will be presented to Noam at next Sunday's Walking for Gilad event at the Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Cards can also be brought along to the event, which will draw attention to the plight of Gilad as well as other hostages and will feature Israeli musician Ehud Banai and speeches from Noam and Prosor.

• To take part in the campaign, please cut out the card on the right, sign it and send it to Gilad Shalit, c/o Embassy of Israel, 2 Palace Green, London, W8 4QB

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