Posters for a Toronto Jewish teenager missing for 11 days have repeatedly been torn down, according to a spokesperson for the family, as volunteers desperate for her safe return have offered a $25,000 reward for vital information.
Esther, who may also go by Esti or Sylvia, has been missing since last Friday, prompting the mobilization of community members, volunteers, and the Toronto Police Service.
Thousands of volunteers have distributed and posted missing-persons posters in the hope that they may prompt recognition from someone who saw her, according to family spokesperson Maureen Leshem, yet those volunteers have been disturbed by the “cruel” repeated and immediate tearing down of the flyers.
“When a family is desperately trying to find their child, this kind of behavior should concern every person in our city. Helping bring a missing child home safely should never be political or controversial. Tearing down posters of a missing girl goes against the compassion, decency, and humanity Canadians pride themselves on,” Leshem said in a statement.
“Right now, the only focus should be on finding Esti. Instead, volunteers who have spent days and nights searching, postering, and raising awareness are watching those efforts deliberately undermined,” continued Leshem.
Family members and supporters have been concerned that the vandalization of the missing persons posters may be motivated by antisemitism, given a rash of antisemitic incidents in Canada and the Greater Toronto Area since the October 7 Massacre.
Whatever the motivation for ruining the posters, Leshem said the end result was the same: the search for Esther was hindered. Yet she also assured that such actions would not stop the thousands of people from trying to return the teenager home.
‘This is not about politics’
“This is not about politics,” said Leshem. “This is about a missing 14-year-old girl and a family desperately trying to bring their daughter home.”
As the search for Esther entered its tenth day, a $25,000 reward was offered by a group of multi-faith Toronto residents in exchange for information leading to the girl’s return.
Esther’s parents addressed the press on Tuesday, urging their daughter to come home and assuring her that, no matter what happened, she was not in trouble.
“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,” said Esther’s mother, Shira, “Your friends, classmates, and community are all worried about you and hoping to see you safe.”
Esther’s last known whereabouts
The girl was last seen on May 16 in the Bathurst Street and Hotspur Road area, wearing a turquoise sweater, grey sweatpants, and no shoes. Esther has brown hair and has been diagnosed as on the autistic spectrum.
TPS said on X/Twitter on Tuesday that they were “extremely concerned for her safety,” and urged anyone with information to contact them.
The tenth day of Esther’s disappearance coincided with International Missing Children’s Day.
Missing Children Society of Canada said on social media that on Monday, thoughts should be directed toward children who remain missing and those who have returned home.
