asbury park press front page august 29, 2014

LAKEWOOD — The hope had been to find AaronSofer alive somewhere, to see him walking thestreets of the township again.

Instead, his family plans to bury his body in Is-rael today.

Sofer, 23, had been missing since last Friday,when the Lakewood resident went for a hike inwoods outside of Jerusalem. While many wereconcerned he could have been abducted, his bodywas found in the woods by volunteers on Thurs-day.

“They’re overwhelmed,” said Township Com-mitteeman Meir Lichtenstein of the family. “Atthe same time, there is some relief that Aaron hasbeen found.”

Hundreds of people reportedly searched forSofer, who became separated from a friend afterthey trekked in the bush.

TRAGIC ENDTO SEARCH

NOAH K. MURRAY/CORRESPONDENT

Rabbi Meir Eiseman, uncle of Aaron Sofer, joins a prayer vigil for the yeshiva studentheld Wednesday in Lakewood. Sofer’s body was found Thursday in Israel.

Young Lakewood man, missing in Israel

since last Friday, has been found dead

JODY SOMERS/CORRESPONDENT

Aaron Sofer was reportedmissing last week.

By Kevin Pentón @kevinpentonAPP

See SOFER, Page A7

TEARS, PRAYERSGo to APP.com for a video and more photoswith this story.

GOODBYE, SUMMER ’14It’s unofficially the last weekend of the summer.

Make it count.

IN JERSEY ALIVE!

Asbury Park Press APP.COM $1.00

FRIDAY 08.29.14

VOLUME 135

NUMBER 207

SINCE 1879

ADVICE JERSEY ALIVE!CLASSIFIED D1COMICS JERSEY ALIVE!LOCAL A3LOTTERIES A2

OBITUARIES A11OPINION A14SPORTS C1YOUR MONEY A10WEATHER C12

WILL YOUR GAS BILL SHRINK THIS YEAR?Your Money, A10

BOSS PENS PICTURE BOOK FOR ADULTSInside, A4

HAWKS SET TO TAKE FLIGHTMonmouth has a new up-tempo offense

for its fi rst season in the Big South C1

SPORTS

U.S.: RUSSIA ‘OUTRIGHT LIED’ ABOUT TROOPS IN UKRAINE PAGE 1B

ARE WE PAST THE DANGER ZONE?

In the words of one longtime

lifeguard, this has been among

the worst summers for rip

currents in decades. Is it safe

to brave the surf yet? A8

TODAY

TOM SPADER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER