Union for Reform Judaism Urges White House to Grant Pollard Clemency

Rabbi Saperstein: "In the midst of the Days of Awe, as we ponder the wrongdoings we have committed and pray for God's mercy, we pray as well that President Obama will act with mercy and grant Mr. Pollard long-overdue clemency."

 

Contact: Eric Harris or Katharine Nasielski
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org 

Washington, D.C., October 4, 2011 - In response to news reports indicating that the White House has been considering granting clemency to Jonathan Pollard, Rabbi David Saperstein issued the following statement:

 

Jonathan Pollard has been incarcerated for over 20 years, after he plead guilty to one count of delivering classified information to the Israeli government. As we have said many times, we neither condone breaking the law, nor do we support clemency for Mr. Pollard out of a belief that that he is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. However, Mr. Pollard's time spent in jail has been grossly disproportionate to sentences that others have received for comparable espionage offenses. Only those who spied for enemy nations have received life sentences. No other individual convicted of disclosing information to an ally has received such a sentence.

 

In the midst of the Days of Awe, as we ponder the wrongdoings we have committed and pray for God's mercy, we pray as well that President Obama will act with mercy and grant Mr. Pollard long-overdue clemency.