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The WatchMen from Israel on the Wall
Jerusalem, 11 Tevet 5769, Wednesday, January 7, 2009,
Shalom,
I forward,
Two-Week Pollard Countdown Begins With Giant Prayer Rally
Tevet 10, 5769, 06 January 09 01:24by Hillel Fendel
www.israelnationalnews.com/SendMail.aspx?print=print&type=0&item=129253
(IsraelNN.com) The Tenth of Tevet - a traditional Jewish day of fasting
marking the start of the destruction of Jerusalem over 2,500 years ago - has
been marked for a day of prayers at the Western Wall on behalf of Jonathan
Pollard, the soldiers fighting in Gaza, and troubled Jews around the world.
The event was originally called exclusively on behalf of Pollard, who has
been in prison in the United States for well over 23 years. The campaign
for his release has entered possibly its most critical phase ever, with
President George W. Bush set to leave office in just two weeks.
In accordance with well-entrenched American tradition, the President pardons
many prisoners in his final hours in office. Jews around the world are
hoping and praying that Pollard is on the list as well.
Phone Campaign Still Critical
Well over 10,000 Israelis have used a special phone line set up to call the
White House for the price of a local call and ask Pres. Bush to grant
Pollard clemency. The number in Israel is 077-566-4305, from 4 PM to
midnight, five days a week; within the U.S., the number is 202-456-1414 or
202-456-1111, Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EDST.
Organizers say that the successful continuation of the phone campaign is
still critical.
Chief Rabbis Will Be There
At the same time, they emphasize the importance of prayer. "If I had a
brother who was in prison for 24 years," says Rabbi Asher Mivtzari, "I would
hire the best lawyers, etc. - but I would certainly make sure to employ my
power of prayer to the One Who ultimately makes the decisions. Rabbi
Mordechai Eliyahu got out of the hospital on Sunday, and immediately
afterwards I heard from his son that he asks that everyone make a special
effort to take part in these prayers." Chief Rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo
Amar will be there, together with many other leading rabbis.
Other important causes will also be the focus of the prayers, especially the
soldiers in Gaza and the fate of troubled Jews wherever they are, such as
captive soldier Gilad Shalit, other MIA's, and people in areas battered by
Hamas rockets.
Conservatives for Pollard
Just last month, for the first time, the Conservative Jewish movement in the
United States and around the world urged the American president to consider
clemency for Pollard. Raymond Goldstein, International President of the
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), and Rabbi Jerome Epstein,
the organization's Executive Vice President, wrote to President Bush as
follows: "We do not minimize the treasonous* nature of Pollard's espionage,
for which he was rightfully arrested, tried, and sentenced. But he has been
imprisoned since 1985, and has served far more time in prison than anyone
else convicted of espionage, even those who were in the pay of enemies of
the United States. Given the disproportionate length of his sentence, we
strongly believe that it would be an act of kindness consonant with the
deepest American values to grant him clemency." *[*J4JP Note: Jonathan
Pollard was never accused, indicted or convicted of treason, a crime the
U.S. Constitution defines as the aiding and abetting of an enemy state
during wartime. Contrary to the above, Pollard was sentenced without benefit
of trial. See The Facts Page http://www.jonathanpollard.org/facts.htm ]
Three days earlier, on Dec. 21, the USCJ's board of directors passed a
resolution calling on Bush to commute the sentence of Pollard. The
movement's rabbinical arm, the Rabbinical Assembly, adopted a similar
resolution in 1999.
Iranian Spy Gets 15 Months
Also last month, Muhammed Raza Alawi, an American-born Iranian, was
sentenced in the U.S. to just 15 months in prison for having passed nuclear
plans to Iran. The judge explained the lenient sentence by saying that no
"immediate damage to the U.S." could be attributed to the acts of the
accused.
Pollard supporters note that this was precisely the opposite of what
happened in his case. Pollard was sentenced to life in prison, instead of
the expected 2-4 years, because it was estimated that damage would one day
be caused to the U.S. as a result of his acts. Even though this fear has
been proven false over the past 23 years, his sentence was not commuted, and
he continues to see his health and life wane away as he cleans latrines for
the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Followed by Mincha
The prayers at the Western Wall are to begin at 3 PM, followed an hour later
by the special fast-day Mincha service.
Nissan GanOr, chairman of the Committee to Bring Jonathan Pollard Home, also
notes that "this is a time of grace in the United States" because of the
traditional pardons and clemency given at the end of a presidential term,
and therefore urges "everyone come to the rally and storm the gates of
Heaven, to bring the blessing down to earth and open the prison gates for
Jonathan in time to save his life and bring him home to Israel."
--
JUSTICE FOR JONATHAN POLLARD
Website: http://www.JonathanPollard.org
RSS: http://www.JonathanPollard.org/rss.htm
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Please let we come together in Prayer and Teshuvah in the Love of Yeshuath YHWH. Yehudah, Ephraim and all 'the called out ones',
Ariel
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