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May 25, 2013 /16 Sivan, 5773
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The Tosfos Yomtov was convinced that the death of 300,000 –600,000 Jews during the Chmielnicki massacres of 1648-49 were because of improper Tefila. Communicated: Tefilla

Chillul Tefila Bifarhesia, as well as halachicly challenged verbiage and dress, are external manifestations of a critical lack of personal yiras shomayim which has lethal consequences.



Rabbi Lau to Obama: Let Pollard Go

Despite the admissions and the remorse, Jonathan continues to remain in jail for a period of time unparalleled in its harshness.
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Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
Photo Credit: Moshe Shai/FLASH90

February 25, 2013

To:
Mr. Barack Obama
President of the United States of America

Honored President,

Divine Providence, acting through the American People, has appointed you to the most exalted office in the world: President of the United States. You stand at the head of the most powerful nation in the world whose strength is measured not only by its political, economic and military might, but also by its spiritual power as the flag bearer of liberty and freedom. At the eastern port of entry to the United States stands the Statue of Liberty which symbolizes for all who enter her gates, the longed-for national calling card, the yearning for freedom of all mankind. In the chronicles of history, the brilliant personalities of George Washington, President Abraham Lincoln and the visionary Martin Luther King, stand out. Their character and their fight for independence, liberty, and equality, light the way for your feet in forging another link in this illustrious chain.

My dear President, it is 28 years (nearly 10,000 days) that Jonathan Pollard has been incarcerated in an American prison. He was sentenced for a serious offense, passing classified information to a foreign country, albeit a friendly nation, the State of Israel. Those who were responsible for this affair have admitted their guilt and expressed honest and deep remorse for this serious breech, even if it were done with the intention of protecting the security of Israel.

Despite the admissions and the remorse, Jonathan continues to remain in jail for a period of time unparalleled in its harshness and for which there has been no precedent in all American history. In addition to the fact that the man is serving a disproportionately severe sentence, it is well known that his health is failing and his life expectancy is diminishing.

In the book of Samuel I in the Bible, Chapter 14, the People of Israel cry out: “Shall Jonathan die?” This outcry which refers to Jonathan, the son of King Saul, screams from the chambers of my own heart with regard to Jonathan Pollard, that he should merit to leave prison alive, and perhaps even be blessed with the most basic right which has been denied him up until now, fatherhood.

Honored President, after the requests of the president of our country Mr. Shimon Peres, and our prime minister Mr. Binyamin Netanyahu, and thousands of Israelis, as well as those of exalted American leaders such as Secretaries of State, Professor Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, I too add my voice to the many who are calling on you to hear and to respond positively to commute the sentence of Jonathan Pollard, who seeks only to live out the remainder of his life with his wife Esther in the State of Israel which has granted him citizenship. Your taking this action, Mr. President, shall be engraved upon the hearts of freedom-seekers throughout the world as a gesture worthy of being included in the chronicles of humanity.

With blessing,

Sincerely,

Rabbi Israel Meir Lau
Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv – Jaffa
Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council

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No Responses to “Rabbi Lau to Obama: Let Pollard Go”

  1. Mitt Moran says:

    sale this bs to other suckers in the world. Fucking spy need to stay in prison.

  2. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/rabbi-lau-to-obama-let-pollard-go/2013/02/25/ Dear President Obama full of mercy and kindness hear our prayers and Grant freedom peace to them who have paid for there wrong doings grant them mercy and forgiveness release from prison set them free. I to agree let the Will of our God be done now.

  3. I agree but keep in mind that this needs bipartisan support. The previous 2 Presidents threw those seeking Pollard leniency bones in pardoning other Jews, some posthumously

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