Israeli-Canadian Mother Suspected of Kidnapping Children to Jerusalem Amid Custody Dispute

A 29-year-old woman holding dual Israeli-Canadian citizenship, Aliza Joy Hirschberg, is suspected of abducting her two young children and hiding in the Jerusalem area. The children, Tala Reizel, age three, and Natan Yaakov Verona, age one, were taken from Canada to Israel in August 2025 amid a severe personal conflict with their father, who resides in Canada. The father, unable to locate his children or contact them, hired a private investigator who tracked the mother to Jerusalem and provided critical information to Israeli authorities.

Following this evidence, the Jerusalem District Police and the local court issued an official arrest warrant for Hirschberg on suspicion of child abduction. The police have publicly released photos of the mother and children, an unusual step reserved for urgent cases, and are actively searching for them. Authorities believe the family remains in or near Jerusalem and have urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline or the investigating unit.

This case highlights the complex legal and emotional challenges posed by international family disputes involving parents with dual citizenship. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Jerusalem District Police's Lev HaBira station, which continues to dedicate significant operational and intelligence resources to locate the mother and her children.