This is considered one of the most important mitzvot, and considered by many to be the highest form of charity, yet there are times where it is not right to do so. Hundred of years ago the Maharam of Rottenberg (Rabbi Meir ben Baruch) was kidnapped by an evil German ruler. He did not allow his community to pay the ransom for his release, as he felt that this would just lead to more of the same and cause undo hardships on the community.
Today there are a number of Jewish captives in the world. Why does it appear that our government is doing little to gain their release and what is the connection between them?
Gilad Shalit - is an Israel soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas 5 years ago from his army base in the night. All known evidence shows that he is being held in Gaza and as long as two years ago there was still evidence that he was alive. Nothing since then shows that he is still alive.
Jonathon Pollard - is an Jewish American who passed classified information to the Israeli government and is serving a life sentence in prison in the United States.
Let's look at the differences.
With Baumel, Katz, Feldman and Arad. The assumption is that they are dead and therefor negotiating for their remains would not warrant negotiating with terrorist of the release of terrorist who in all likelihood will spill more Jewish blood.
This holds true also for Shalit. How many Jews will likely die from the terrorists released in such an exchange? Can the Shalit family really be prepared to visit the families that will be mourning their loved ones as a result of such an exchange? How many more soldiers will be kidnapped when Hamas realizes that this is a good idea?
Pollard on the other hand is being held captive by the American Government, not a terrorist organization. The Americans are not going to ask for the release of terrorists in exchange and he has already served more than a normal life sentance. He wasn't release on compassionate leave to visit his dying father, nor to attend his funeral. Murderers are released after 2/3 of a sentence is served. Many hardened criminals are released on compassionate leave for just such reasons, the fact that they didn't release Pollard for his father's funeral is disgusting.
This is someone who spied for a friendly country not an enemy, he co-operated with the investigation and trial after which his plea bargain was then not accepted. So why is this man still in jail? The only answer is that the Americans are keeping him in jail to hold Israel by 'the short and curlies'. The Israeli government won't dare pressure their good friends. This is the biggest and most unacceptable abuse of friendship ever. Clinton and Bush could both have commuted his sentence and didn't. Obama is holding him in order to pressure Israel to the negotiation table with ............................................ the same terrorists who are holding Baumel, Katz, Feldman, Arad and Shalit.
AND THERE IS THE CONNECTION.
Today there are a number of Jewish captives in the world. Why does it appear that our government is doing little to gain their release and what is the connection between them?
Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz, Zvi Feldman - are Israeli soldiers captured or killed in the battle of Sultan Yaakub in 1982. There is no evidence that they are still alive.
Ron Arad - is an aviator whose plane was lost in the 1986 and until 1988 there was evidence that he was alive. At this point in time, the government has no evidence that he is still alive.Gilad Shalit - is an Israel soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas 5 years ago from his army base in the night. All known evidence shows that he is being held in Gaza and as long as two years ago there was still evidence that he was alive. Nothing since then shows that he is still alive.
Jonathon Pollard - is an Jewish American who passed classified information to the Israeli government and is serving a life sentence in prison in the United States.
Let's look at the differences.
With Baumel, Katz, Feldman and Arad. The assumption is that they are dead and therefor negotiating for their remains would not warrant negotiating with terrorist of the release of terrorist who in all likelihood will spill more Jewish blood.
This holds true also for Shalit. How many Jews will likely die from the terrorists released in such an exchange? Can the Shalit family really be prepared to visit the families that will be mourning their loved ones as a result of such an exchange? How many more soldiers will be kidnapped when Hamas realizes that this is a good idea?
Pollard on the other hand is being held captive by the American Government, not a terrorist organization. The Americans are not going to ask for the release of terrorists in exchange and he has already served more than a normal life sentance. He wasn't release on compassionate leave to visit his dying father, nor to attend his funeral. Murderers are released after 2/3 of a sentence is served. Many hardened criminals are released on compassionate leave for just such reasons, the fact that they didn't release Pollard for his father's funeral is disgusting.
This is someone who spied for a friendly country not an enemy, he co-operated with the investigation and trial after which his plea bargain was then not accepted. So why is this man still in jail? The only answer is that the Americans are keeping him in jail to hold Israel by 'the short and curlies'. The Israeli government won't dare pressure their good friends. This is the biggest and most unacceptable abuse of friendship ever. Clinton and Bush could both have commuted his sentence and didn't. Obama is holding him in order to pressure Israel to the negotiation table with ............................................ the same terrorists who are holding Baumel, Katz, Feldman, Arad and Shalit.
AND THERE IS THE CONNECTION.
It is possible though that the Israeli government doesn't want him to be released since he might have certain sensitive information against certain political figures. Just my thoughts. During the 25 years that he is incarcerated no one from the Israeli gov't spoke up for him until very recently.
השבמחק