Gedolei Yisrael for Pollard: "arouse mercy" • letter

Prior to the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama in Israel, there is increasing pressure to release the Jewish spy Jonathan Pollard.

B'Chadrei Charedim publication reveals the first letter - signed by the Gedolei Yisrael, rebbes and rabbis, who call to act in any way possible for the release of the prisoner Jonathan Pollard.

In recent weeks, activists and volunteers engaged in the committee for the release of Pollard, the production of the letter. Some went to the homes of the Gedolei Yisrael, and signed them one by one on the wording of the letter. "We come here to scream and request our brothers the people of Israel concerning Jonathan ben Malka Pollard who is behind bars for nearly thirty years, for the various actions done out of a desire to benefit many people in Israel. From his long sojourn behind prison walls - even his health has been damaged and is in need of a refua shleima. The Rambam wrote that "There is no greater commandment than redeeming captives".
"Therefore call out and cry for mercy and beg for his salvation. Anyone who can operate in the various authorities to put an end to his arrest and remove him from prison soon. And for the mutual guarantee of all Israel may we merit for mission and vision, and the redemption prisoners, in Klal Yisrael's and the coming of Mashiach and building of the Besi Hamikdash speedily in our days, amen. "

The letter was signed: Hgray"l Steinman, Hgr"ch Kanievsky, Hgr"o Yosef, Admor Erloy, Hagaon Edelstein, Hagaon Silberstein, Hgrb"d Povarsky, Hgr"sh Cohen, Admor Lelov Beit Shemesh, and more.
B'Chadrei Charedim learned that during a round of signatures, when they came to the house of Hgray"l there was an interesting anecdote: Michael Levine, grandson of Rabbi Aryeh Levin zt"l, one of those involved in the petition drive, submitted the text of the letter to Hgray"l Steinman, and then Hgray"l remembered that 8 years ago, he signed a similar letter that was transferred to the former President, George Bush. One volunteer said: "The Rabbi spoke a lot of the decree that Jonathan is still imprisoned."
Parallel to the letter, an accelerated campaign is being held for Jonathan Pollard's release, jailed for 28 years in the U.S. On the committee's web page for the release of Pollard a petition opened which will be transferred to the American president, in which Israeli citizens were called to sign. Up until now there are 184,740 signers, and last week Gilad Shalit also joined the call.
Last week, U.S. President clarified his position regarding the intention to release Pollard. Interviewed by Channel 2 he said: "I do not intend to release Jonathan Pollard immediately." And added: "But I will make sure that he, like every American being sentenced to prison, will be reexamined of the sentence imposed, and will enjoy the same rights that everyone else enjoys. I am well aware that this case raises emotions among Israeli citizens."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!