Karina Ariev is a 19 year old young woman, who like every other Israeli was looking forward to a normal, peaceful Shabbat morning on October the 7th last year. Then in the early hours of the dawn's light her world was torn apart by rockets and gunfire. She managed to make a quick tearful phone call to her parents where they said that:

 “She screamed and said she loves us very much,” and “She told us to continue our lives.” (Times of Israel).

At 07:40 they lost contact with her. Later, they found a Hamas video publicized on Telegram, in which three young women were shown lying down in a jeep, surrounded by men speaking in Arabic. Their daughter, Karina, was one of the three, her face wounded and bleeding.

Some 48 hours later, a representative from the army told them that Karina was a hostage, being held by a terror group.

Nearly 5 months have passed since that terrible day and the family still know nothing of her condition or whereabouts other than that she is being held like all the other remaining hostages in appalling conditions somewhere in Gaza. With little to no support from organisations such as the Red Cross or the United Nations, the families of the hostages are having to lead the campaign themselves to secure the release of their loved ones. Here in the UK the Board of Deputies has asked each Jewish Community group to 'Adopt a Hostage'. We can raise awareness of the horrific situation that Karina, her family and all the other remaining hostages and their loved ones are facing. First and foremost, we can pray for her and all the others (see below), we can talk about them, we can challenge the apathy or disinterest that the terrorists and their sympathisers are trying to foster. Post her image on your social media. Maybe write to your MP to ask them to raise awareness. If you would like to write a message to her family please let me know, the Board of Deputies has kindly offered to help us send such messages to them. If you think of other ideas please share them with me and the community.

Can we ask that when you post this or other messages about Karina that you include the tags #BringThemHome and #BoardofDeputies

Below are two prayers that you can include in your daily ritual.

אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַנְּתוּנִים בְּצָרָה וּבַשִּׁבְיָה,
הָעוֹמְדִים בֵּין בַּיָּם וּבֵין בַּיַּבָּשָׁה,
הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם, וְיוֹצִיאֵם מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָה,
וּמֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה, וּמִשִּׁעְבּוּד לִגְאֻלָּה,
הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב.

For all our family of the House of Israel, fellow Jews who face anguish and captivity,
whether on sea or on land:
May the Divine have compassion upon them, and bring them from distress to relief,
from darkness to light, from subjugation to redemption,

now, speedily, soon, and let us say: Amen

And

  ברוך אתה אדונאי אלוהנו מלך העולמי מתיר אסורים     

      Blessed are you Adonai, our G'd, sovereign of the universe, who frees the captive.