Prayers for Pollard at Joseph's Tomb

Maayana Miskin - Arutz7/INN - December 29, 2010

Hundreds of Jews used their monthly chance to pray at Joseph's Tomb (Kever Yosef) in order to pray for Jonathan Pollard to be released from prison. A special prayer was written in honor of Pollard, who was sentenced to life in jail in the United States for passing classified information to Israel.

"There is no place like Joseph's Tomb to feel for Jonathan, who like Joseph was cast into the pit by his brothers," said members of the Women for Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green) who were at the prayer session. "The brothers repent, and ask to release him and return him to his land, on whose behalf he acted with tremendous self-sacrifice," they noted.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently announced that he would ask U.S. President Barack Obama to release Pollard, who has already served 25 years of his sentence. Pro-Pollard sentiment has been growing in America, where former government officials have publicly stated that Pollard received unfair treatment.

Jews are allowed to pray at Joseph's Tomb once a month, in coordination with the IDF. Visits take place at night.

Hundreds of people took advantage of the chance to visit this week. Women for Israel's Future activists said they were impressed by the renovations that had taken place at the site, which was recently repaired after being heavily damaged by Palestinian Authority vandals.

However, they said, "There was also a frustrating feeling, of a nocturnal entrance, like thieves in the night."

Overall the experience was "uplifting," they said, and added hopes that prayers for Pollard "will be received by merit of the righteous Joseph and [Pollard] be speedily released, unconditionally, healthy and whole, to his family, his people, and his land."