An Upper West Side synagogue bought a 40-by-40-foot advertisement in Times Square begging for the safe return of three Israeli teens allegedly kidnapped by Hamas.
The massive digital billboard, on Broadway between 47th and 46th streets, went live Tuesday afternoon with color photos of Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, who were abducted in the West Bank, and the hashtag #bringbackourboys.
“On June 12th, 2014, three teenage boys were kidnapped in Israel, one of them an American citizen,” the giant ad reads. “These boys are not soldiers. They are not fighters. They are not violent. These boys are our sons. Our brothers. Our grandchildren. Our nephews. Our friends. Please help create global awareness.”
Israeli officials believe the boys were taken by Hamas, though the Islamist group hasn’t claimed responsibility.
Young Israel of the West Side Rabbi Dovid Cohen wouldn’t disclose how much he paid for the ad — which airs for 15 seconds twice every hour — but said the space usually goes for $15,000.
“I just think word has to get out,” Cohen said. “Anything to keep the story alive, that’s what we’re going to do.”
So far, it’s working.
“It draws the concern even more here [in New York] because one of them is an American,” said New Jersey resident Anthony Giacoby.