NEW YORK – Hailing the release of Jonathan Pollard from federal prison today, the Rabbinical Assembly, the international association for Conservative/Masorti rabbis, released the following statement:
"Jonathan Pollard deserves his freedom and the Rabbinical Assembly, after years of tireless advocacy efforts, welcomes his long-awaited release," said Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president. "Jonathan, to the detriment of his health, has served the longest sentence of any individual convicted of a similar offense in the United States. After witnessing firsthand the effects of his long incarceration during a visit to the Butner Federal Correction Complex in North Carolina two years ago, I am truly grateful for his release."
"As the Conservative Movement has iterated many times in the past, including in Rabbinical Assembly resolutions in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 2011, Jonathan Pollard was handed a remarkably unfair sentence," said Rabbi William Gershon, president. "We welcome his release after decades of injustice and will keep him and his family in our prayers as they embark on this new chapter in their lives."