Israeli Mother and Daughter Disappear in Vienna, Prompting Urgent Search Efforts

Mali and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter, have been missing in Vienna since last Friday, raising serious concerns among their family and authorities. The situation escalated after they failed to board their scheduled return flight to Israel on Tuesday. The Israeli Embassy in Austria issued an urgent public appeal for assistance in locating the two, who have had no contact since before the start of the Sabbath on Friday.

Ronen Yahalomi, their son and brother, flew to Vienna to join the search efforts. In an interview, he described the distressing situation, saying, "This is our last chance to be physically present and meet with those who need to be involved. Until yesterday, we managed to cope, but since they missed their flight, our worry has intensified." He added that there are no new leads, only a last known location in Vienna, and that the family is prepared for any outcome.

The trip was a surprise birthday celebration for the mother’s 50th birthday, including a planned transfer from Prague to Vienna. Ronen emphasized that the family sees no apparent reason for their disappearance, noting their travel experience and the recent birthday party they attended.

Chabad emissary in Vienna, Reuven Timsit, described the disappearance as particularly troubling. He noted that the women were absent from a Sabbath meal attended by over 400 travelers and were not seen on security cameras. Timsit highlighted the extensive community and Israeli involvement in the search, including a WhatsApp group of travelers actively looking for them. Despite the concern, no special security alerts have been issued in Vienna, which remains a generally safe and well-monitored city, deepening the mystery surrounding their disappearance.