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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

Toronto Jewish community seeks teen missing for week through Shavuot holiday

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Toronto Jewish community, including Shomrim Toronto and the Toronto Police Service, searched for a 14-year-old girl named Esther missing since the previous Friday.
  • Volunteers operated a hotline and search headquarters throughout the Shavuot holiday, with the girl last seen in the Earl Bales Park area and later spotted in the Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road area.
  • Esther's mother pleaded for her daughter's return, urging the public to check security footage, while political leaders like Roman Baber and Pierre Poilievre raised awareness for the case.

The Toronto Jewish community mobilized throughout the Shavuot holiday to find Esther, a 14-year-old girl who had been missing for a week. Neighborhood watch group Shomrim Toronto and the Toronto Police Service (TPS) coordinated search efforts, operating a dedicated hotline and search headquarters. Volunteers distributed flyers and conducted searches, demonstrating a community-wide commitment to Esther's safe return.

Esti, my love, If you are watching this, please come home. We love you so very much. We miss you terribly. Your family, here, across the country, and around the world are searching and praying for you every minute. Your friends, classmates, and community are all worried about you and hoping to see you safe.

— Shira (Esther's mother)Esther's mother made an emotional plea during a press briefing, urging her daughter to return home and expressing the community's deep concern.

Esther was last seen on Friday in the Earl Bales Park area. Police later updated her last known sighting to midnight last Saturday in the Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road area. Authorities noted that the missing teenager, who was last seen wearing a turquoise sweater and grey sweatpants, has been diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. A tip hotline was established on Thursday, and Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak escalated the case to "Priority 1."

As a mother there is no pain worse than not knowing where your child is or whether she is safe. please help us bring our child home.

— Shira (Esther's mother)Esther's mother appealed to the public for assistance in the search, highlighting the anguish of not knowing her daughter's whereabouts.

In a press briefing, Esther's parents made an emotional plea for her return. Her mother, Shira, urged Esther to come home, assuring her she was not in trouble and expressing the deep love and worry of her family and community. Shira also requested public assistance, asking residents to check personal security camera footage for any clues. She thanked the TPS and the numerous volunteers, including community members and strangers, who aided in the search. Political figures, including York Centre MP Roman Baber and federal opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, also amplified calls to find Esther.

Let's find Esther and get her home.

— Pierre PoilievreThe federal opposition leader used his social media platform to draw attention to the missing girl's case and encourage efforts to find her.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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