Thinking About Jonathan Pollard

Artuz Sheva ^ | 08 December 2002 | Larry Domnitch

[SJackson]

The third Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, also known by his pen name, the Tzemach Tzedek, sent a letter to one of his emissaries on behalf of another, named Reb Chaim Yehoshua, who was languishing in a Russian jail. Through tireless efforts and at great personal risk, Reb Chaim Yehoshua had managed to rescue hundreds of boys from the fate of being inducted for prolonged service in Czar Nicholas´ army as Cantonists. The Czar´s purpose in recruiting the boys (literally boys) was to force them to accept baptism - by any means. Reb Chaim landed in prison due to the workings of an informant, and he was charged with sedition.

The letter was sent to another Chabad activist named Rabbi Zev Wolf, calling upon him to act on Reb Chaim Yehoshua´s behalf. Reb Chaim was being held in a military prison and faced severe punishment by a military court if convicted of the charges. Just one line from the very short letter contains very potent massages for us all. The Tzemach Tzedek wrote, "Watch over him closely," facing charges in military court, he was in great danger; "With all your heart and soul," Rabbi Zev Wolf usually conducted rescue efforts in a calculating manner with little emotion. In this instance, he was instructed to put emotion into the effort; "And bestow upon him kindness," as Reb Chaim had placed himself at risk and saved so many, there must be reciprocity for his deeds;(*) "Do this for me," As if he would be acting on behalf of the Rebbe - the Tzemach Tzedek - himself. This case was personal. Every case of releasing captives is special, but the case of Reb Chaim Yehoshua was of extra importance.

Such is the case with Jonathan Pollard.

I personally have acted on behalf of Jonathan Pollard, as have many of us. We have recited prayers, and have written letters, and attended synagogue functions on his behalf. Some of us have also protested at the steps of the Justice Department in Washington D.C., and on the streets of New York and other cities. But we must ask ourselves, as the years pass and Jonathan Pollard remains in jail, “What have we done lately? And have we acted with sufficient fervency and dedication?” Clearly, not enough has been done.

A reminder: We all still owe Jonathan Pollard. He refused to remain silent. And when he discovered the dangers to Israel, he took risks for over a period of four years in order to inform Israel of the emerging threats from Iraq. The consequences he is paying are for actions on our behalf. As Jonathan himself wrote in a letter back in 1987, "I´d rather be rotting in prison then sitting shiva for the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who could have died." We all owe him, big time.

If we do not speak up, who will? Why should a non-Jewish congressman speak up when so many Jewish representatives of heavily Jewish districts are silent? If their constituents were more vocal, they would be as well. Some action on the matter would also no doubt awaken more Knesset members to act. It is time to get moving again, to speak up, to redeem a special captive.

Even during the horrendous and panic ridden days of Nicholas I, efforts to pressure the authorities, succeeded in having Reb Chaim Yehoshua´s case moved from a military to a civilian court, where he received a far lighter sentence. We should be able to accomplish no less for Jonathan Pollard, our brother.

(*) The comments are from the compilation, Igrois Kodesh.

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Larry Domnitch is an author and educator who resides in Efrat.

[dennisw]

http://www.jonathanpollard.org/mustread.htm

[dennisw]

http://www.jonathanpollard.org/1994/060094.htm

 

I am convinced that a full, fair and open review of the facts will lead to the conclusion that the information given to Israel was largely tactical and regional, rather than strategic and global. It related primarily to Iraq’s plans for chemical and gas warfare and to Syrian inspired terrorism directed against civilians. It has no current intelligence value, and there is no reason to keep it classified. 

What we are seeing here is yet another abuse of the classification system by the Pentagon to serve political, rather than national security, interests. The entire classification system reeks of arbitrariness. Insiders leak classified information with impunity. I was recently told by a former intelligence official that he had been shown classified information in order to give him ammunition to oppose Pollard’s release. 

The government continues to play fast and loose with the facts. In another recent leak, intelligence officials assert that information given to Israel may have inadvertently found its way to the Soviet Union. Yet prosecutor DiGenova asserted during a public debate that he had no information to confirm that rank speculation. 

In a democracy, it is unfair for the government to argue against the rights of a citizen by relying on classified information without giving that citizen the right to defend himself against its charges. Accordingly, the only appropriate course for the government to follow now is that suggested by DiGenova: all the material upon which the government is relying in its effort to keep Pollard in jail should now be declassified so the public can determine for itself the actual extent of any damage done by Pollard.

[bribriagain]

"Accordingly, the only appropriate course for the government to follow now is that suggested by DiGenova: all the material upon which the government is relying in its effort to keep Pollard in jail should now be declassified so the public can determine for itself the actual extent of any damage done by Pollard. "

Seems reasonable to me.

[dennisw]

Can I get a witness? Yes. You. Thanks!

[Illbay]

I don't really care about your supposed motives for posting, any more than I care about your facility with HTML.

I'm addressing the COMMENTS you're making, trying to defend Pollard, trying to blend in with the outrageous chorus of his defenders whose argument boils down to "he didn't really do anything that bad," trusting to the "memory hole" to help your case.

It's despicable, IMO, for anyone who CLAIMS to be a supporter of our "Free Republic" to play to these lies.

[SJackson]

Funny, you quote Joe DeGenova, the prosecutor, I quote Ted Olson, Pollards attorney prior to entering the administration, who seem to agree.

To counter them, Illbay quotes Andrew I. Killgore just about the only person I can think of whom the State Department has accused of being antisemitic.

[Illbay]

"Seems reasonable" to you to release classified information?

How convenient for you Israel-sycophants.

You can allege a "cover up" and call for declassification of classified data, KNOWING that it won't happen because of national security interests, and then arch your eyebrows, and say you smell an anti-semitic rat.

You people disgust me, all the more for the fact that you sit here fat dumb and happy, out of the fray, you and yours not threatened by Palestinian terrorism, and state calmly that you'll even betray your own COUNTRY for Israel.

I say that if you were REALLY sincere about "helping Israel," you'd get your smarmy *sses out of the U.S., where you're not needed, and GO to Israel and join the IDF. Then at least, your efforts wouldn't be so two-faced.

[Illbay]

"Seems reasonable" to you to release classified information?

How convenient for you Israel-sycophants.

You can allege a "cover up" and call for declassification of classified data, KNOWING that it won't happen because of national security interests, and then arch your eyebrows, and say you smell an anti-semitic rat.

You people disgust me, all the more for the fact that you sit here fat dumb and happy, out of the fray, you and yours not threatened by Palestinian terrorism, and state calmly that you'll even betray your own COUNTRY for Israel.

I say that if you were REALLY sincere about "helping Israel," you'd get your smarmy *sses out of the U.S., where you're not needed, and GO to Israel and join the IDF. Then at least, your efforts wouldn't be so two-faced.

[Illbay]

"Seems reasonable" to you to release classified information?

How convenient for you Israel-sycophants.

You can allege a "cover up" and call for declassification of classified data, KNOWING that it won't happen because of national security interests, and then arch your eyebrows, and say you smell an anti-semitic rat.

You people disgust me, all the more for the fact that you sit here fat dumb and happy, out of the fray, you and yours not threatened by Palestinian terrorism, and state calmly that you'll even betray your own COUNTRY for Israel.

I say that if you were REALLY sincere about "helping Israel," you'd get your smarmy *sses out of the U.S., where you're not needed, and GO to Israel and join the IDF. Then at least, your efforts wouldn't be so two-faced.

[Illbay]

It continues to amaze me that people like you actually believe that charges of "anti-Semitism"--or racism of any stripe--still have any bite, as overused as they've been.

"The race card" just doesn't work very well anymore, particularly when Occam's razor might indicate the simpler explanation that there are actually people in this country who love THIS COUNTRY and not some other, and wish death and misery on ALL her enemies, no matter from whence they come. "Foreign or domestic," get it?

Pollard wasn't an "Israeli spy," he was a ****ing traitor.

Is that easy enough for you to understand, or do we need three pages of clever HTML before you'll pay attention?

[Illbay]

It continues to amaze me that people like you actually believe that charges of "anti-Semitism"--or racism of any stripe--still have any bite, as overused as they've been.

"The race card" just doesn't work very well anymore, particularly when Occam's razor might indicate the simpler explanation that there are actually people in this country who love THIS COUNTRY and not some other, and wish death and misery on ALL her enemies, no matter from whence they come. "Foreign or domestic," get it?

Pollard wasn't an "Israeli spy," he was a ****ing traitor.

Is that easy enough for you to understand, or do we need three pages of clever HTML before you'll pay attention?

[dennisw]

Take your Ritalin. Or are you going to say you spit on me too? As you did in a previous post? I am in a search for truth about Pollard while your search is for words of invective.

People better than you such as Ted Olsen and Alan Dershowitz want to know more. The material is more than old enough to be declassified. To see what Pollard really did. This is what you fear. How come?

[dennisw]

Your manic remarks about Israel verge on anti Semitism. HAPPY NOW?

[SJackson]

I don't really care about your supposed motives for posting, any more than I care about your facility with HTML…I'm addressing the COMMENTS you're making, trying to defend Pollard, trying to blend in with the outrageous chorus of his defenders whose argument boils down to "he didn't really do anything that bad," trusting to the "memory hole" to help your case…It's despicable, IMO, for anyone who CLAIMS to be a supporter of our "Free Republic" to play to these lies. Frankly, I don’t much care about you. I referred to my reason for posting fool, since you commented on it to me I wish you fools would just shut yer yaps about Pollard. It’s called an answer. I guess it was a mistake to address your comments. And you continue to prove yourself a fool, as you accuse others. DID YOU READ MY POSTS? IF YOU DID WHY CAN’T YOU PROVIDE ONE REFERENCE TO BACK UP YOUR BIGOTED CONTENTIONS? As to my quoting Ted Olson, write the White House, tell GWB to fire him. Don’t know what to do about Joe DeGenova, I think he sometimes works for the Republican Party in Virginia, you could complain to them. I’ll note a condensed version of my opinion for a third time, on the outside chance you can read and intelligently respond. Also, please note where I said anything like, he didn't really do anything that bad . *Life in jail for Pollard works fine for me, as would have been a more severe sentence if imposed at the time. *His sentence is disproportionate when compared to other similar cases of espionage. There’s no refuting that, but I don’t lose much sleep over it. And if GWB released him, I wouldn’t lose much sleep either. *The real problem, which of course you nor the Pollard threads ever address, is the lenient sentencing of others convicted of espionage, which continues up to this day. You can toddle on over to the Washington Report now.

[Mr. K]

The game is like this- we have to play hardball with pollard or every spy in the world will think we are easy targets.

Isrealis have to try their hardest to get them out, or no one will be willing to risk spying.

Pollard should and will rot until we have someone very important we want to trade him for...

[Illbay]

I am in a search for truth about Pollard ...

In a pig's eye. You're in search of that "memory hole."

[Illbay]

IF YOU DID WHY CAN’T YOU PROVIDE ONE REFERENCE TO BACK UP YOUR BIGOTED CONTENTIONS?

Like I said: The more you try to use the "race card," the more your argument looks like a FOOL'S errand.

[SJackson]

The game is like this- we have to play hardball with pollard or every spy in the world will think we are easy targets...Isrealis have to try their hardest to get them out, or no one will be willing to risk spying... Pollard should and will rot until we have someone very important we want to trade him for...

I would agree.

[SJackson]

IF YOU DID WHY CAN’T YOU PROVIDE ONE REFERENCE TO BACK UP YOUR BIGOTED CONTENTIONS? Like I said: The more you try to use the "race card," the more your argument looks like a FOOL'S errand. There you go again, Illbay, another unsubstantiated accusation. To add to the list. When did I use the “race card”? I never said you don’t like white people. You are a Bigot, a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices You’ve made false accusation after false accusation on this thread, and refuse to back up a single one, you’re obstinately and intolerantly devoted to your own opinion, bigoted. Bye

[dennisw]

Bull! I want the truth while you want to bury Pollard without a better disclosure of the facts. What he actually took and conveyed to Israel. Sorry if you're pissed off that the Jewish state is an ally of ours. Really gets you steamed, eh? Far better to let the Jihadists do their number of 'em, right?