Johannesburg Jewry Rallies for Gilad Shalit - 11 August 2011

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Press Release - Israel Centre South Africa
Gilad Shalit Rally - Thursday 11 August 15:30

The Israel Centre together with the Zionist Youth Movements of South Africa co-ordinated a Gilad Shalit solidarity rally this Thursday 11 August. Gilad Shalit, was kidnapped by Hamas in 2006 and has been held incommunicado since then, denied any outside contact. 

Members and friends of the community gathered in the late afternoon to rally in Glenhazel in support of this brave soldier and called for his immediate release. Olivier Brochenin, Deputy Ambassador of the French Embassy in South Africa addressed the crowd and stated very clearly that “the French authorities will not end their efforts until Gilad Shalit is free.”

This event was the peak of an educational program which the Youth Movements held from 1 August to 8 August in the Jewish day schools in Gauteng. Youth movement leaders and Israeli representatives visited the schools and held sessions with each of the grades, where they educated the students about Gilad Shalit in order to create awareness and understanding. Activities in the schools were related to the dilemmas and the controversy that Israeli society faces today, with the focus being on the plight of Shalit. The culmination of this educational week was this solidarity rally.

This year we commemorate the five years during which Gilad Shalit has been held in captivity. Guest speaker Avrom Krengel, Chairman of the South African Zionist Federation, reiterated that “Gilad Shalit has not had any contact with the Red Cross, with his family or with anyone other than his captors and his tormentors, this cannot go without this community showing abhorrence for this situation; he expressed our desire to ensure that this is the last anniversary that we assemble to mourn the capture of Gilad Shalit, and that future gatherings should celebrate his freedom.”

Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein also spoke at the event and encouraged the youth and those present to continue their efforts in calling for Shalit’s freedom. He continued by asking everyone present to pray that Gilad Shalit should be returned to his parents, to his family, and to the Nation and State of Israel.

Laine Walldorf
Marketing Co-ordinator
011 645 2528
marketing@israelcentre.co.za