Long Island Board of Rabbis Calls on Clinton to Reconsider and Release Pollard

LONG ISLAND BOARD OF RABBIS

President:

June 14, 1994

President Bill Clinton
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Clinton,

The Long Island Board of Rabbis, which represents the collective rabbinate of one hundred-fifty Jewish Congregations and with over two hundred-fifty-thousand congregants, 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 s as unduly harsh, and, thus far, to a great degree having been served under inhumane conditions and unwarranted solitary confinement. In our estimation, the punishment that he has received is unprecedented in our history.

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

Respectfully,

(signed)

Rabbi Maurice D. Simckes, D.D.
President