“There’s a new form of terrorism in Israel today,” says Yoni Mozeson, “fought with roses instead of guns.” Yoni, a marketing executive, was a 20-year resident of Teaneck before he and his family moved to Israel three years ago.

“For many young Arabs this is a form of jihad,” he continued. “Often pretending to be Jewish, Arab men lure young Jewish girls into a relationship with lavish gifts and flattery. Once these girls go ‘willingly’ to Arab villages, they suffer a life of servitude and sexual abuse.”

These tragic episodes increased dramatically since 2011 when Sheik Abu Humam Al-Athari proclaimed the entrapment of Jewish girls to be part of Sharia (Islamic religious law). Israel’s hotlines report over a thousand requests a year from girls trapped in Arab villages. A Knesset report last year stated that close to 1,000 girls were “voluntarily missing.” The total number of Jewish girls stuck in Arab villages,” says Yoni, “is estimated to be a staggering 20,000–30,000.”

Learn & Return responds to desperate pleas from family and friends and intervenes before it’s too late. They help the girls break free of these relationships. This often means providing a safe house. It always entails counseling, support and love for the girls and their families. “The idea is to provide them a transition back to a productive life,” added Yoni.

Please join the parlor meeting for Learn & Return at the Teaneck home of David and Cynthia Zimm, Sunday April 27th 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m., 1318 Fayette St. Call (201) 677-8871 for more info.