Vienna Jews aid search for missing Israeli women

The Jewish Community of Vienna is assisting in the search for two missing Israeli women, community leaders said Thursday, as an Israeli court imposed a gag order restricting disclosure of investigation details.

Jewish groups in Vienna have circulated missing person notices online, according to Ariel Muzicant, a former president of the Jewish Community in Vienna. "All the Jewish groups here have circulated online a missing person's banner and we're waiting for further updates," Muzicant told JNS, adding that he had received multiple calls but no new information.

Mali and Liel Yahalomi, aged 50 and 23, have not been in contact with their family in Israel since Friday afternoon. They failed to board a flight from Prague on Tuesday. Their family released a statement Wednesday noting that "no unusual use was made of Mali and Liel's bank accounts, and the last use was on August 3." Israeli and Austrian police are investigating their disappearance.

The gag order issued Thursday prohibits publication of police investigation details or information that could identify suspects. The two women observe Shabbat, and their family did not become concerned about them until Sunday.

Rabbi Jacob Biderman, a top Chabad-Lubavitch emissary in Vienna, said the local community "shares the great concern of the rest of the Jewish world and the people in Israel with regard to the safety and well-being of the mother and daughter, but all we can do is stay vigilant and help look for them. That's what we're doing." Biderman cautioned against speculation, calling it "irresponsible and unfair" To the family, stating: "We are following, we are praying, we are keeping our eyes open and we hope for a happy conclusion."

Mali and Liel Yahalomi, from Modi'in in central Israel, had previously traveled together abroad, including spending close to a month in the United States.