Jewish response ‘brought tears to my eyes’
THE Jewish community’s response when 11-year-old Sydneysider Michelle Levy went missing has been described as “incredible”, “staggering”, “unique”, “heartwarming” and “a show of great community spirit”.
Thousands of volunteers flooded Centennial Park and then streets in the eastern suburbs on Sunday to help NSW Police, State Emergency Services, Hatzolah and CSG search for the Woollahra Public School student.
People came forward and offered rewards and one person even organised a sky-writer for Monday morning, but Michelle was found safe and well before the plane took off.
“The response by the Jewish community was staggering and more than I could have ever dreamed of,” Michelle’s mother Anne told The AJN this week.
“It brought tears to my eyes thinking of all the time given up by friends and strangers.”
Rabbi Mendel Kastel, whose organisation Jewish House hosted a command centre on Sunday night, said the response from the community was incredible.
“We set up a room because we expected about 50 volunteers but then I walked out the front door and saw a street full of 1000 people,” he said.
“It was simply overwhelming, incredible, heartwarming and something I won’t forget.”
Gary Munitz, who set up the Facebook page Find Michelle Levy, said the amount of people that suddenly just got in their cars and started looking for Michelle was amazing.
“Every single person had a strong sense of community and wanted to add value,” he said.
“We even had people that lived in other states and countries contribute by helping on the phone with media and getting CCTV footage.”
Eastern Suburbs Local Area Command’s superintendent Jason Box said the response was “on a larger scale than ever seen”.
“It was extremely satisfying to see the whole community rally together,” Box said, adding that the campaign by the community directly led to Michelle’s safe return.
“The use of social media and the way information was exchanged in the community was a great benefit and led to Michelle being located.”
“[The Jewish community’s] response and sense of looking after each other is very strong and it was evident and a great assistance to us.”
Michelle ran away from home on Saturday evening following a row with her father over a chocolate bar.
She was eventually located on Monday morning after the man she was with contacted Anglicare.
The Anglicare worker went to the apartment, confirmed it was Michelle, and then contacted the family.
The family said they would like to have an opportunity to meet the man and thank him for taking care of Michelle for two days.
Asked by The AJN on Tuesday night how it felt to be back home with her family, Michelle said, “It feels a lot better.”
For full coverage, see this week’s AJN.
JOSHUA LEVI
Jewish House’s Rabbi Mendel Kastel, Hatzolah’s Dovi Meyer and JEMS’ Rabbi Yossi Shuchat with Michelle Levy. Photo: Ingrid Shakenovsky
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