Managing Partner Michael Wildes and Talent Team Leader Caroline Gabela-Monteiro at Wildes & Weinberg are proud to announce the approval of the O-1 petition filed on behalf of Shely Shem Tov.
Mrs. Shely Shem Tov is the mother of Omer Shem Tov, a former hostage of Hamas, and she has emerged as a central, internationally recognized advocate for the families of those abducted on October 7, 2023. On that day, when alarms rang across Israel, Mrs. Shem Tov tried calling Omer, whom she had seen just the day before for her 50th birthday, and initially believed he was safe. As the chaos unfolded, she watched in shock as his escape route veered toward Gaza. She immediately understood the severity of the crisis and took action after failing to receive assistance from local authorities.
Within 48 hours, Mrs. Shem Tov, her husband, and a small group of other families founded the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. From the very beginning, Mrs. Shem Tov assumed a leading role, working long hours at the Forum’s headquarters, driven by urgency, grief, and determination. She helped turn a spontaneous support group into a national movement, designing its operational framework and overseeing communications and media outreach to ensure that the stories of the hostages remained visible in public discourse and international attention. She organized rallies and vigils, sometimes within sight of government offices, mobilizing public support to pressure political and military decision makers and coordinated meetings with officials, diplomats, and international organizations.
During the months of captivity, as Omer and hundreds of others remained missing, Mrs. Shem Tov’s work became a lifeline for families living in fear and uncertainty. In 2024, one year after the abductions, the situation was described as “365 days in captivity with not even a glimmer of light,” reflecting the ongoing struggle and the importance of her relentless advocacy. Her efforts ensured that the stories of hostages and their families were not forgotten, sustaining national and international pressure for their safe return.
Omer was eventually released on February 22, 2025, after 505 days in captivity, but Mrs. Shem Tov’s work did not stop there. She continued to amplify the voices of families still waiting, coordinating media coverage, addressing international audiences, and advocating for continued government and diplomatic action. She transformed personal tragedy into collective action, turning grief into strategy and fear into organized hope, and building a national platform that continues to influence public discourse and policy.
Through her vision, determination, and leadership, Mrs. Shem Tov has demonstrated extraordinary skill, influence, and impact. Her guidance and advocacy have been essential to the Forum’s success and to maintaining international attention on the plight of hostages.
Wildes & Weinberg was founded in 1960 by Senior Partner, Leon Wildes. He was best known for his successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono as they fought the Nixon Administration during a five year bitterly contested Deportation Proceeding.
Nearly three quarters of a century later, the firm continues to concentrate its practice in all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law, servicing the immigration requirements of prominent American and International firms, banks, industrial, financial, and manufacturing concerns, as well as law firms in connection with the personnel needs of their foreign national employees.
In addition, the firm has a distinguished clientele and has done substantial immigration work for performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors/actresses, athletes, fine artists, art dealers, curators, and literary agents. Most notable was Leon Wildes’ successful representation of former Beatle John Lennon and his artist wife, Yoko Ono in their deportation proceedings, the basis of which has inspired legislation, and has been portrayed in films, plays, and literary works worldwide. Some of the firm’s other distinguished clients include scholar Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (z”l), as well as soccer icon Pele and Karim Benzema, Master Chef Jean-Georges, musicians Sinead O’ Connor and Boy George, as well as First Lady Melania Trump and her family.
Michael Wildes, the firm’s Managing Partner, is also currently serving his fifth term as Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, is the author of Safe Haven in America: Battles to Open the Golden Door (which draws on over a quarter of a century of his practice in the immigration field), is an Adjunct Professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, and serves as Counsel to Lincoln Center and several international/corporate law firms.
Despite difficulties currently being encountered in dealing with U.S. immigration authorities, the firm has maintained an extraordinary track record for success in its cases. The firm’s litigation group has expanded its efforts in filing Mandamus Actions and other Actions in Federal Courts throughout the nation.
In addition, Wildes & Weinberg’s multilingual staff is spread throughout its offices in New York City, Englewood, New Jersey, Miami, Florida, and by appointment only in Los Angeles, California and Tel Aviv, Israel, and are known for their experience and special expertise in processing each foreign national’s case with nothing less than the highest level of professionalism.
For more information on our firm please visit www.wildeslaw.com or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.