The Chicago Board of Rabbis Protests Clinton Denial, Calls for Pollard's Release

May 2, 1994

President Bill Clinton
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Clinton

The Chicago Board of Rabbis, which represents the collective rabbinate of this community, wishes to express its great disappointment in the manner in which you summarily denied the motion for commutation of the lifetime sentence imposed upon Jonathan Pollard.

We in no way condone any violation of our country's laws, but consider Pollard's sentence as unduly harsh, and, for the most part, it has been served under inhumane conditions, mostly in solitary confinement.

We urge you, Mr. President, to reconsider this denial of clemency for Jonathan Pollard and to reduce his sentence to time-served. Through this means, we wish to add our voice to the growing wave of support for Pollard's release.

Respectfully,

Rabbi Peter S. Knobel
President

Rabbi Mordecai Simon
Executive Vice President