Urgent: Call on American Jewish leadership to confront Biden about Pollard at reception this Wednesday, October 5

Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA - October 3, 2011

The leadership of the American Jewish community will face an important test in two days:

"On Wednesday, you, Mr. Biden, will host a Rosh Hashana party at your residence for American Jewish leaders."

Will they act as one would expect any proud American citizen who is confident of his status as an American citizen to act - or will they essentially cower in fear, uncertain of their true standing as Diaspora Jews who happen to reside in the United States, and remain silent, only to bring home yet another photograph of them shaking hands with a top American official to mount on the office wall.

At this stage its not just about Jonathan Pollard.

In the wake of the formal requests by PM Netanyahu and President Peres it goes to the very depths of the relationship between the Unites States and Israel and in turn between the U.S. administration and the American Jewish community.

The Pollard affair is no longer a question of equally valid diverse opinions. The key players intimately familiar with the details of the case, joined by a veritable Who's Who, have all weighed in with the inescapable truth that justice demands that Jonathan Pollard be freed at once.

During these "Days of Awe" between Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, American Jewish leadership is being put to the test.

I urge everyone to contact the Jewish organizations that they belong to and call on the leaders of the organizations to speak out, as proud and confident American citizens, for Pollard's release when they attend the reception this Wednesday.

I urge everyone with personal connections to American Jewish leaders attending this meeting to pick up the phone and call on the leaders to do the right thing.

There is no time to waste.