Pollard invites US Jewish leaders to meet him

Israeli agent invites seven Jewish leaders to hear about their meeting with US Vice President Biden.

Gil Hoffman - The Jerusalem Post - December 18, 2011

Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard recently invited seven prominent American Jewish leaders to meet with him as a group at his Butner, North Carolina prison cell.

Pollard rarely receives visitors due to his deteriorating health. But he invited the seven Jewish leaders, because he wanted to hear about a November 21 meeting that they had with US Vice President Joe Biden in which they discussed his case.

The invitation came via a letter sent to the Jewish leaders by National Council of Young Israel Executive Vice President Rabbi Pesach Lerner, who is very close to Pollard and visited him two days after the Biden meeting. Pollard told Lerner that he wanted to express his gratitude to the leaders for urging his release.

"Jonathan personally requested that in addition to conveying his appreciation, I invite you to visit him as a group at the prison as soon as possible so that he has the opportunity to thank you in person," Lerner wrote. "He also would welcome the opportunity to share with you information and ideas which can best be shared face to face."

The letter was sent to Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations executive vice chairman Malcolm Hoenlein, Anti-Defamation League national director Abe Foxman, Jewish Council for Public Affairs president Rabbi Steve Gutow, Florida philanthropist Michael Adler, and the heads of the three major American Jewish streams.

Since the letter was sent December 1, more than half of the seven already confirmed their participation in a meeting that Pollard hopes will happen during Hanukkah.

"As an individual who has known Jonathan for over 18 years and visits with him often, I know your visit will be most meaningful and beneficial," Lerner wrote them. "I know that it will give you the strength and sense of mission to continue your efforts on his behalf."

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