Growing concern surrounds the unexplained disappearance of Mali and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter who vanished while traveling in Europe, as the search enters its fifth day with investigators still lacking any meaningful clues to their whereabouts.
In an interview with Arutz Sheva–Israel National News, Vienna Chabad emissary Rav Reuven Timsit said the Austrian Jewish community remains stunned by the case and has little information about what may have happened.
“We first heard about it a few days ago, and there is still absolutely no lead. The information is very, very vague,” he said.
Rav Timsit explained that one of the earliest assumptions was that the missing pair would stop at the local Chabad House, as many religious Jewish tourists do during their travels.
“At the Chabad House this week, over 400 travelers registered for Shabbat meals, but their names did not appear on the lists. They also do not appear on the Chabad House’s security cameras, so we don’t even have a first indication that they came here.”
Since the disappearance became public, the Chabad House has played a central role in organizing search efforts and coordinating volunteers.
“We’ve activated WhatsApp groups for travelers and are asking everyone to look for them. But what’s especially moving is the response from the local Jewish community. People are treating this as though it were their own mother or daughter. You can see it in all of the community’s WhatsApp groups.”
He added that local business owners have also become actively involved in trying to help locate the missing women.
“One business owner wrote to us that he thinks he saw them come to him, and he immediately informed Israel’s Foreign Ministry. People feel this is their personal issue, and it’s very moving to witness.”
Rav Timsit emphasized that Austrian authorities are fully engaged in the investigation alongside Israeli officials.
“The police and everyone who deals with security in Austria are working on the case. They’re not leaving the work solely to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.”
He cautioned, however, that the ease of travel between European countries presents a major challenge for investigators trying to retrace the pair’s movements.
“They landed in the Czech Republic and traveled from there to Vienna, but in Europe all the borders are open,” Rabbi Timsit explained. “You can travel by car and no one will check you. In 50 minutes you’re in Slovakia, and within three hours you’re in Budapest. That’s why it’s so difficult to know where to even begin looking.”
At this point, investigators have not determined what type of incident, if any, may have occurred.
“We don’t know whether this is a criminal incident, nationalist [attack], a family matter, or something else. There isn’t a single lead. That’s what makes it all so strange,” he said, noting, “We live in a time when almost every movement can be tracked. How in the world is it possible to simply disappear in Europe? That’s what’s so disturbing.”
He also stressed that the disappearance is particularly puzzling because Vienna has long been viewed as a relatively safe destination.
“Vienna is usually very calm. We are not aware of any unusual warnings or specific threats against Israeli or Jewish travelers. Precisely because of that, this entire case raises more and more questions.”
As time continues to pass without answers, Rav Timsit acknowledged that fears naturally begin to grow.
“With every passing moment, your imagination starts working overtime. Suddenly you start wondering – maybe they fell into a pit? Maybe they were kidnapped? We can’t know. This isn’t a Third World country or an area struck by a natural disaster. This is Vienna, Austria. How can someone simply disappear here?”
He concluded by urging Jews around the world to take part in the effort through prayer.
“It’s not only people in Vienna or Europe who can help. Those in Israel can also be part of the effort. A short prayer, a short chapter of Psalms – they can always help.”
{Matzav.com}
