Young Jewish Mother Goes Missing in Sydney

Police are scouring hotels, parks and reserves throughout Sydney as the search intensifies for a young Jewish mother, Jessica Bialek, who vanished from her home over 24 hours ago.

Please take a moment and say a Kapital Tehillim for the sake of Chana Bas Sarah.

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

Jessica Bialek, an accomplished photographer who has worked for the Australian Ballet and the Bangarra Dance Theatre, left her home on Dudley Street in Coogee just after 8.30am on Wednesday to walk to a nearby bank.

Detectives have visited the bank on Thursday morning in an effort to determine whether bank transactions showing up on her account recently were made in the past 24 hours.

The 37-year-old failed to return home to her husband and young daughter on Wednesday morning, alarming family and friends who have mounted a search to find her.

Ms Bialek’s husband, Sabino Matera, said he had been unable to reach his wife since he last spoke to her when she left home.

He posted a desperate message on Facebook around 8pm on Wednesday night, asking people to help him find her.

“She left home without her car and [has] not made contact nor returned home. Her phone is off. This is a real alarm,” he wrote on Facebook, where he is also circulating his wife’s photograph.

Eastern Beaches police commander, Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate, said police were looking in “all public places, canvassing through motels within the area and speaking to relatives, friends and loved ones”.

Ms Bialek, who has a background in dance and singing, is a freelance photographer specialising in performing arts photography, as well as fashion.

Other companies she has worked for include Opera Victoria, Circus Oz and the Victorian College of the Arts.

Police have launched an investigation into her disappearance, and say they hold concerns for her welfare.

Ms Bialek is described as being between 170-175 centimetres tall, with a slim build and dark hair.

Anyone who has seen her in the past day, or who has any information that could assist investigators, has been urged to contact Maroubra police on (02) 9349 9299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.