An Urgent Appeal From The Great Rabbis

An Urgent Appeal From The Great Rabbis

Kol Korei: The Roshei Yeshiva's Full Page Ad for Pollard As Mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim

Originally published: October 15, 1993 - Yated Ne'eman - Full Page Ad
Republished Yearly by NCYI Viewpoint Magazine - 1998 onwards

Click here to view the origial display ad.

Re: "Pidyan Shvuyim": Redemption of a Captive

To all our Jewish brethren, wherever they may be:

The difficult plight of Jonathan Pollard is well known and publicized. He is enduring an usually harsh and severe sentence.

It is a mitzvah incumbent upon every Jew to make efforts to free him from his imprisonment; those who can should write letters to the government, and whoever can intercede on his behalf should do so.

In the merit of this great Mitzvah of "Pidyan Shvuyim" (Redemption of a Captive), may all who take part be abundantly blessed by the One Who Frees the Imprisoned.

Signed,

Rabbi Ahron Moshe Schecter: Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva R. Chaim Berlin
Rabbi Alter Chanoch Henoch HaKohen Leibowitz: Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim
Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler: Rosh Yeshiva, Beis Medrash Gedola, Lakewood
Rabbi Avraham Ya'akov HaKohen Pam: Rosh Yeshiva, Mesivta Torah Vodaas
Rabbi Moshe Stern: Rav of Debrecin
Rabbi Ya'akov Perlow: Nominsker Rebbe
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky: Rosh Yeshiva, Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum: Rosh Yeshiva, Mirrer Yeshiva
Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg: Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Ner Yisroel, Baltimore
Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld: Matesdorfer Rav
Rabbi Reuven Feinstein: Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva of Staten Island
Rabbi Z. Hirsh Tevel: Rabbi, Congregation Siach HaSadeh
Rabbi M. Gifter: Rosh Yeshiva, Telshe Yeshiva
Rabbi Zacharyah Gelley: Rav, Av Beis Din, Khal Adas Yeshurun, N.Y.C.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Feigelstock: Rosh Yeshiva, Mesivta of Long Beach
Rabbi Leib Bakst: Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Ateres Mordechai
Rabbi Ahron Zelif Halevi : Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah of Gorodna
Rabbi Avraham Chaim Levin: Rosh Yeshiva, Telshe Yeshiva, Chicago
Ha Rav Mordecai David Reuvin: The Admor of Sasaragen
Rabbi Menashe Klein: Rosh Yeshiva, Bais Shearim, Av Beis Din Ungar
Rabbi Elyn Svei: Rosh Yeshiva, Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
Rabbi Elya Fisher: Rosh Kollel Ger
Rabbi Yosel Harari-Raful: Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivas Ateret Torah
Rabbi Chaim Ben-Ouliel: Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivas Mikdash Melech
Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz: Bostoner Rebbe
Rabbi Levi Krupenia, Rosh Yeshiva: Yeshivas Kamenitz
Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshiva: Yeshiva Rabeinu Yitzchok Elchonon

Note: This appeal shows that amongst the great rabbis of the generation in the US, there is unanimity that Jonathan's case is a mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim - a mitzvah so great that it is pemitted to sell a sefer Torah to carry it out. Indeed the Sabbath may be violated to carry out this mitzvah, so great a precept it is.

Many long, harsh years have passed since the Great Rabbis issued this urgent appeal on behalf of Jonathan Pollard in a full page ad published in Yated Ne'eman on October 15, 1993.

Jonathan Pollard has been serving a harsh life sentence since November 21, 1985. He is ill, worn out and heart-broken that he has been left to languish all these years.

It is incumbent upon the entire Jewish community worldwide to respond at once to the urgent appeal of the Great Rabbis. Every Jew has a share in this great mitzvah. Every Jew has the responsibility to act now. There is no doubt that the Jewish community has both the means and the ability to act upon the Rabbis' appeal. It is simply a question of will. HaShem will surely bless.

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