Gilad Shalit. Five years in captivity
Photo: AP
Rabbi Metzger with captive's father, Noam Shalit
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Initiative: Charity box for Gilad Shalit
Ahead of High Holidays, Chief Rabbinate to place boxes in synagogues in bid to help kidnapped soldier's family fund struggle
The Chief Rabbinate will be placing charity boxes in synagogues across Israel
to help raise funds for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
The idea was proposed by Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who ruled that the donations collected through the charity boxes would be used by the Shalit family members for their struggle to have their loved one returned from Hamas captivity.
Captive Soldier
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The money will cover the high costs of the protest rallies and protest tent set up outside the prime minister's residence more than a year ago.
A source in the Chief Rabbinate said Rabbi Metzger initiated the plan in honor of the month of Elul and ahead of the High Holidays.
"In Judaism it is customary that repentance, prayer and charity help overcome the weight of punishment – and charity for redemption of prisoners is considered a great mitzvah," the source explained.
"It's not every day that people get the opportunity to donate to the redemption of prisoners, so the distribution of these charity boxes will help them do something for this goal and help the Shalit family rescue its son from captivity in the Gaza Strip."
The rabbinate also debated whether the charity funds could be used by the family for media ads or should be restricted to the protest activity. Rabbi Metzger is expected to present a halachic ruling on the matter in the coming days.
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