Text of Award Bestowed upon Pollard: Yakir HaTorah V'Haaretz
[Beloved of The Torah and The Land]
J4JPnews - February 2, 2007
The following is a translation of the text of the award presented to Jonathan Pollard at Bar Ilan University at the annual convention of rabbis at Bar Ilan University under the auspices of Machon HaTorah V'Haaretz, February 1, 2007:
YAKIR HATORAH V'HAARETZ
We are honored to present to Prisoner of Zion, hero of our people, Jonathan Pollard, the honor of Yakir HaTorah V'Haaretz (Beloved of The Torah and The Land) for his self-sacrifice to save the Land of Israel. We do so amidst prayer and urgent outcry to the public at large, to demand his immediate release.
Our brother Jonathan is a Prisoner of Zion, serving his 22nd year in prison in the United States, severely isolated and in terrible conditions, for sacrificing himself for the Nation which dwells in Zion, and providing us with critical information to save us from our enemies.
The Government of Israel officially recognized Jonathan Pollard (in 1998) as an Israeli agent who worked under its auspices and acknowledged its obligation to him and its responsibility for him. Nevertheless, he continues to languish in prison and his situation is difficult in the extreme.
Our efforts to free Jonathan Pollard are a manifestation of the principles of Arevut Hadadeet of the Nation of Israel (the principle of mutual responsibility that we owe to one and other; HaKarat Hatov (the expression of gratitude) that we owe to one who worked on our behalf and for our security; and the great Mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim (the redemption of a captive) concerning which the Shulchan Aruch (the code of Jewish Law) instructs:
The Mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim takes precedence over the mitzvah of supporting and clothing the poor. And there is no mitzvah as great as the Mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim every moment that the Mitzvah of Pidyan Shvuyim is delayed, or there is a failure to advance [the mitzvah], alas, it is counted as bloodshed. (Yoreh Deah 252).
Jonathan Pollard is a model of a Jew who acted on behalf of his brothers and his People with true devotion. The deeds and actions of Jonathan Pollard are deserving of praise and gratitude by each and every one of the inhabitants of our Holy Land on whose behalf Jonathan acted.
Machon HaTorah V'Haaretz is honored to present this certificate to Jonathan Pollard.
As an expression of the Torah of Eretz Yisrael and of our responsibility for Achdut Yisrael (the unity of Israel ) we embrace Jonathan Pollard with love, and cry out and pray for his immediate release.
Machon HaTorah V'Haaretz
Kfar Darom - (Temporarily located in Ashkelon).