By COLlive reporter
Two 16-year-old Chabad girls have been reported missing on Motzoei Shabbos while on a Shabbaton trip with their class in Orlando, Florida.
Rivka Moshe and Brocha Katz, both students of Bais Chana High School, a division of the Lubavitch Educational Center of Miami, Florida, were last seen when they left for a walk on Shabbos afternoon, a relative said on social media.
Friends said the girls left Caribe Cove Resort by Wyndham Vacation Rentals in Kissimmee, where they were staying, at 3:00 pm and were supposed to return by 5:30 pm, but hours later they had still not returned.
This Caribbean-themed resort has Old Lake Davenport nearby and is surrounded by green woods. The area is called Four Corners, also known as Citrus Ridge.
Police are currently searching the area with helicopters and search dogs, the girls’ friends said.
Rabbi Benjy Korf, executive director of Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami, said “all authorities and resources are being used to finding these two girls.”
Korf added, “at the present time, the police and authorities on site have asked everyone not to interfere. If, and as soon as we need volunteers, we will put out a call and ask.”
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is leading the search efforts. The case was also reported to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and an official Amber Alert was issued for missing persons.
“Full resources are being dedicated to this search,” a person involved said. “Police dogs are hot in their trail and the trail remains hot and in progress. Preliminary information so far indicates no evidence of foul play and fits a pattern of someone lost in an area where most of the buildings and surroundings look the same.”
The person said “there remains concern why they have not called anyone.”
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call Police or Hatzalah: 305-919-4900.
The public is asked to say Tehillim for Bracha Tefillah bas Yisraelis Rivka and Rivkah bas Tzipporah. Join the Tehillim effort at http://tehilimyahad.com/mr.jsp?r=LeJWSF9E9R
UPDATE (1:09 AM):
Florida State Police have taken over the investigation from the city police.
Hatzalah volunteer medical service are working with them and should be on the ground in an hour, people involved in the case told COLlive.com.
40 local women have spontaneously gathered for a Hakhel event to say Tehillim and pray for the safety and speedy return of the girls.
Update 2:30 AM:
Chabad mobilized a team of 50 volunteers (and counting). Waiting for instructions from local authorities, local Shliach Rabbi Sholom Dubov reports.
Volunteers will begin distributing ‘Missing Person’ flyers – canvassing the entire area. Teams from Daytona and Palm City have arrived.
“The police are overwhelmed with the amount of people who showed up and as of yet haven’t let them in area,” one of the volunteers on the ground reported.
Update 3:30 AM:
Team of volunteers leave command center to canvas six mile radius with ‘missing person’ flyers.
Update 4:30 AM:
6 Chabad search teams canvassed a 2-mile area of all open businesses. Search continues at daylight. South Florida team arrives.
The sheriff’s office said a ‘FLIR’ equipped helicopter searched nearby woods earlier and no heat signature was detected. Search will resume soon.
Update: 9:00 AM:
The boys school of Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami will be gathering for Tehillim this morning.
Volunteers are being called to help widen the search in the surrounding Orlando area. Volunteers are arriving from the area, various Chabad centers, and from as far as New York.
To volunteer contact Mendy Levy 305-342-6665
Update: 9:48 AM:
Sheriff’s office official briefing expected soon, will advise on scope of search needed.
Mi ke’amcha yisroel! I’m amazed how many people came together to search, the praying around the world and the hachlotos! I’m so happy the girls ate safe and that the hotel owner had a bar mitzvah!
About a half hour after my Tehillim, they were found.
I don’t know these girls, but I just keep thinking about it. It must’ve been so scary! No food, no water! Oy oy oy!!! Baruch Hashem I say! Baruch Hashem. Hashem does all and He has done it again. I’ll say it again, Baruch Hashem!
Have they been found yet?
They found the girls in good condition
tehillim does help, so many people prayed for them to be returned safety and they were. May we only hear good things
Both girls’ fathers confirmed to me that the girls have been found deep in the swampy woods and the rescue teams are going in to pick them up on foot. A helicopter spotted them and dropped them water bottles. One father said they have communicated with them.
BH They were found alive.
They wer found
Reports started coming in ~40 minutes ago that the girls have been found, BH! We should only hear besuros tovos!
Cameras take to papers and warrants to be looked at which takes too much time we don’t have
BORUCH HASHEM, THEY’VE BEEN FOUND SAFE!!! Let’s all remember how much Tefillos and Tzedakah DO help!
Thank G-d, it has just been confirmed that the two NMB girls, Brocha Katz and Rivka Moshe, were found in good health. They walked in the woods behind their hotel and got off the path and got lost. Infrared was spotted by a helicopter and rescuers when to the area and brought them back to safety.
Found unharmed Baruch HaShem !
THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND. THEY GOT LOST IN THE WOODS, SLEPT OVERNIGHT. BH!
The are OK thanks you kadosh baruchu .
the girls are found, identities confirmed- they are knee deep in a swamp and helicopters and police are trying to get to them now. they are waving and seem to be ok. they are using machetes for the forest area to get close enough to grab them. actually girls were just saved right now. they are in the helicopter now
BH the girls were found alive. They got lost in the swamp. They have them now!
Hashem, please bring them home safely now.
Hashem, please bring them home safely now.
I am unaware of the time it takes for an Amber Alert to be issued. However the article states an Amber Alert was issued. I receive cell phone notification when there’s an Amber Alert. I didn’t receive one for this case. There is also no active alert on the official government website. Why is it reported in this article that an alert was issued?
listen give tzedakah to meir baal hanes say tehilim and take upon a hard hachlata and in that merit they will be found iyh
Amber alert system is reserved for a CONFIRMED abduction when the child is believed to be in physical danger. This no Amber alert here, Baruch hashem.
Check all cameras in the area not only the resort ! Ask all ppl in the area if they’ve seen them check homes all around ! Tap into phone convos ask all their friends if they had any other motive ! And most of all… PRAY TZEDAKA and HACHLOTO
She was in my bunk and I love her and if she doesn’t come home now I’m literally going to go insane !
Every room should be checked in the area like someone posted above.
Please be sensitive with your comments . Time to pray ygive tzedaka light a candle and make a mitzvah !!
You don’t need a warrant if the owner of the camera volunteers to turn over the recording. Which I understtod they did. And it’s not true that Amber alerts only go out after 24 hours for children. But I’m in Florida and I did not get an amber alert yet. Why not?
As far as I understand an Amber Alert is issued after 24 hours missing…
May we hear good news and may they be found now.
Are they checking the hotels ?
is it possible that they were abducted and they are in one of the buildings?
brocha and rivka you will be found with hashems help imyh
everyone say tehillim take part and very soon brocha and rivka will reunite with both their families MOSHIACH NOW
Please Check mezuzos of their school building.
As far as I understand an Amber Alert is issued after 24 hours missing…
Yeah I also noticed a lot of mistakes. Rivkah name was spelled wrong twice and it had the wrong date it says they went missing today instead of yesterday
For safe immediate return of our girls and relief of pain n worry of families! Only good news!!!!
Davening for the girls! Will be going to the ohel today and will have them in mind. Hopefully they will be found safe and sound before I go!
we have hashem only and ultimate salvation
May we hear good news Now!!
Moshiach Now!
if you are in N.Y., storm the ohel. We have a rebbe.
Cameras take to papers and warrants to be looked at which takes too much time we don’t have
lets say tehillim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Imyh they will be ok not a single brooz and in perfect shape when they are found
Praying for the families, however there is no active Amber Alert for these girls. Have they been found?
Have they used dogs to try to find them?
How can they say no foul play involved? There is something very wrong here. They would have been back if there was no foul play.
To #67 shouldn’t that have been the first thing they should have done? Looking at security cameras seems to be the obvious thing to do.
When people say we need moshiach or the like in such a situation, they are saying that they can’t bear seeing such tsures, and wish moshiach would be here when all tsures would end. Why did that offend you so?
It is a special day today. The Hillula of the Rebbe Rashab. Say Tehilim make an hachlata, do something extra for them. Iyh in no time, col wil report the great news, that they are found healthy and we’ll. Amen.
I’ve known Brocha since she was a little kid. Her older sister was my best friend. Please daven for her safe return!
If they would have been found by a non Jew they would have called…
Has this notion been considered?
Continue your prayers and tehillim non-stop.
My son was saved from a terrible car accident with a head injury because, I am certain, people davened and said tehillim all over the world. We have the power to create a happy ending.
The Missing Person and Shmira posters do not match–the name of one girl says “Rival” (instead of “Rivka”), the February birth dates are different, and the clothing descriptions are also different. On the Shmira poster it sounds like both girls are wearing the same outfit. I want the mediator to pass this along in case it could be significant for the search. Besuros Tovos!!
Were they found?
Well yeah they Left on shabbos they obviously don’t have a phone!!!!!!
Why is this not being reported in non jewish sources? I googled it and found nothing. It sounds like these kids got lost and then someone found them. I just hope they are ok- praying!!!!
Not one spoke about taking upon themselves to be extra TZANUA! IF you all commit yourselves to cover properly like most of us don’t then we will see their immediate return.
Why is this not being reported in non jewish sources? I googled it and found nothing. It sounds like these kids got lost and then someone found them. I just hope they are ok- praying!!!!
We went to a forest near by the area and to an abandon construction searching for them, it is amazing how many people is searching through the area, I just got back home 6am and over there still people there searching for them, hotel security have to go and search through the CCTV security cameras videos records and with that information we will be able to know if the investigation should continue inside of the hotel rooms or in the nearby areas
Stop w this moshiach stuff. Daven w kavana and bitachon for the well being and safe return of these two girls
Waiting for good news iyh
Let’s keep it up through Hakhel and beyond..to Moshiach! Nor tzu gute zachen
Keep saying tehilim
Pray for their speedy and healthy return !
Posted Says Missing since 04/10/2016 at 1500 hours, but they really vanished on 04/09/2016 that same time!!!
Is Rivka’s name spelled correctly? Is that her nick-name? It says Rival and Rivak
hashem yerachem!!!!!!!!!!!
Any updates? Can’t sleep and m saying tehilim! Hashem yishmor!!
i know these people say tehillim asapppp
may we hear good new soon!!
Were they found yet??
I can only imagine what you must be going through at this very moment. I too had a lost family member a few years ago. I feel as though I am with you in your experience. May Hashem give you tremendous strength to get through this and may you be reunited any minute!! I am with you in my thoughts and Tefilos!!
I am saying tehillim!!! And very scared
– a friend of theirs from school
Can’t imagine what the families and friends are going through right now!! Hashem yishmor!! May the girls be found safe and sound right now!!
Saying tehillim. Can’t sleep. waiting to hear they were found safe.
say umer rabbi benyomin story to say segulah to find anything you’re looking for the r’ hersh leik aliker was a talmid of the bal shem tov he was very short and therfore couldnt do a shidduch. he told hashem just like you can make a tree grow make a ness and i too should grow. and he taka grew and became engaged. he got a gift a watch and lost it, he told hashem you made with me one ness i grew now make another ness and help me find the watch. and he found the watch. he said… Read more »
to those who write “now is not the time to argue” – is there really a time to argue? is it not always a time to try and discuss things with differing perspectives with respectful tolerance of others’ viewpoints? Isn’t it always the time to offer perspectives only in a constructive, respectful way?
May the girls find their way back home safely.
any updates??
Pray that they will be found and returned home safe and sound. We want Moshiach now!!!
May we hear besuros tovos NOW.
In the merit of the Rebbe Rashab, whose yahrzeit is tonight, may they be found now.
Please keep updates coming. Praying.
May HaShem return these precious girls, healthy and well, to their parents tonight. We continue to say Tehillim for their safe return.
Give tzedaka !!!!!! And take on a hachloto
please say Tehillim for them, and maybe add even one extra mitzvah for them too
May we hear good news right away
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ARGUE! Arguing will not get us anywhere. Please please please say tehillim and hope they will be found not soon but NOW
THE AIEBISHTER (HASHEM)SHOULD RETURN BRACHA TEFILIA BAS YISRAELIS RIVKA AND RIVKA BAS TZIPPORAH SAFE AND QUICK.
LET’S STORM THE HEAVENS WITH TEHILLIM AND HACHLOTOS.
Tehillem okay no problem right away they should be back safe we want moshiach now
May Hashem answer all our Tefilos and bring these girls back safely. Saying Tehillim on their behalf. Please keep us updated. Thank you.
May H’ send them safely home
i think you are right with all our teffilot i can assure you they will be safe and sound and they will be found soon
Plz plz say tehillem for them!!!!!
Please hug your daughter and speak with her tonight about good decision making and being safe, about not walking around in a neighborhood u don’t know with one other girl…
We all have to daven for their safety, and surely, Hashem will listen to our tefillos and both girls will be found safe and sound.
To #16 anything can happen to anyone anywhere it’s not a Third World country they should be able to walk freely and safely in a normal society just say some prayers and leave it at that
the beis chana in fl. lubavitch educational center.
Were they found??? I said tehillim over and over
This is not the time to have your “Bubby opinion” put out there!
This is time to say Tehilim and pray for their safe return
Once this is done you can have you voice heard in town hall meetings all over the country
בעזרת השם ימצאו אותן בריאות ושלימות,יחזרו הביתה
יחד עם כל הקבוצה,לשלום ויגדלו אותן לתורה,חופה ומעשים טובים
מתוך שמחה.לחשוב טוב יהיה טוב.בזכות הרבי רשב הכל יהיה סדר.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ARGUE! Arguing will not get us anywhere. Please please please say tehillim and hope they will be found not soon but NOW
Which beis chana is it?
I was just at the ohel saw the post and said tehhilim
May we hear good news now!!!!
As if you’ve never went anywhere on shabbos?
I hope they are okay. But there is no need to be overprotective.
pls say tehillim for these girls in our school and email other ppl. i hope our davening is answered soon. moshiach now
They are still missing. Say tehilm! This is a great discussion to have once they are IYH found safe and sound.
Yes, but they were taking a walk alone, on Shabbos, without any way to contact anyone.
Just because they’re sixteen does not mean that nothing can happen to them.
And caution is good.
Pleas pleas pleas pray. Hatzala said they picked up their scent hours ago and that they’ve been circling.
they may be lost in a forest behind the hotel they were staying in.. police are searching
they should be found fast iyh!!!!!!!!!
May HaShem bring them to safety soon.
They are SIXTEEN years old. Not too young. And it’s a school shabbaton they didn’t go themselves.
We should hear good news.
Imyh they are found hopefully Hashem is watching over them and has good plans
We daven they should come home safe and sound. Prayers from one of their teachers.
Imyh, with all our tefillos, they will be found healthy and well.
How can we know of updates ASAP?
PLEASE everyone should say tehilim, even if you usually dont when you see these things. This is not normal.
Mashiach now!!!! They should be found, safe and sound!!
So scary
As a Bubby, I disagree with all this shabbatons and sending girls away. It’s a sakana and modern. They should come home safe very soon with the Rebbe’s Brochos and protection.