In another forum this issue came to a big discussion.
I think we need to step back a minute and ask the question " Do we have enough information to make this decision"? or even speculate.
The arguments are: He is a Jewish Neshama and we all should have Rachmonis and the issue of "Pidyun Shvuyin", and of course whether or not he deserves such a "harsh" punishment. On the other hand we have no access to any/all classified information that was compromised.
I think we need to first look into the Halachos of "Pidyun Shvuim", which I am not so well versed in. I would like to know the implications and when to apply Pidyun Shvuyim. If someone could provide us with this information.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
First of all Pidyon Shvuyin has to do with redeming a captive jew. I do not see any connection here with Pollard and this issue. there is no way we can have any effect on this situation with Ransom. He is not being held captive. He is doing time for a crime he commited.
The crime he committed was less than others have done. He was made a scapegoat by the Israeli Govt and they should be ashamed of themselves, leaving him out to dry like this.....
Judaism does not believe that it is "good" for any person, especially another Jew, to go to prison if he does not pose an immediate threat. The only time that it is appropriate to send someone to jail is if they are potentially dangerous to other people. Otherwise, what good does prison do? Placing a criminal amongst other criminals certainly will not teach a person to not commit further crime, for no element or rehabilitation exists in such an atmosphere.
If you respond by telling me that he is "getting what he deserves", there is no such concept in Judaism. Every form of punishment that we find in the Torah is rehabilitative in nature some way or another. Putting a man like him in prison (even if he DID commit every crime that he is being charged for) will only force him to be in a dangerous, vile and unproductive atmosphere. There is simply no point.
I'm sorry, I thought this blog was about pidyon shvuyim and Rubashkin and not Pollard. That is what my post is in reference to.
Shlomo..what would be the difference??
Right on Mr Fantl! I totally agree with you!
lets give the man the benefit of the doubt -dan
Mark, I dont understand what you mean when you say you dont know what the difference would be. Do you mean that there is no difference between sending him to jail and not sending him to jail? If so, I think the answer is as follows: jail is dangerous. Why send someone there for no reason? Purposelessy placing a fellow human being in a dangerous environment, especially if he is a Jew, is something that we should be against. I have heard halachic authorities say that prison is a sakanos nefashos (mortal danger), and that people shouldn't be sent there if they dont pose any threat. I don't know about you, but I would be afraid for my life if I were in prison.
Mark, I dont understand what you mean when you say you dont know what the difference would be. Do you mean that there is no difference between sending him to jail and not sending him to jail? If so, I think the answer is as follows: jail is dangerous. Why send someone there for no reason? Purposelessy placing a fellow human being in a dangerous environment, especially if he is a Jew, is something that we should be against. I have heard halachic authorities say that prison is a sakanos nefashos (mortal danger), and that people shouldn't be sent there if they dont pose any threat. I don't know about you, but I would be afraid for my life if I were in prison.
Dan Lkaf Zchus,
thank you for thinking like a Torah Jew. I'm definitely with you
what it boils down to, is the fact that I have a hard time seeing a fellow jew in prison, and i dont know why other people feel the same?
Shlomo, are you aware of the crimes that he commmit? Do you know what type of information was compromised? Do you know where he is sitting in prison? Have you been to a prison?
Let's say his information compromised the safety of Americans, and Israeli's. Are you aware that classified information had been purportely transferred to Pakistan and Africa.
My feeling is that you have not done research on this matter.
Mark,
SO WHAT!!!!! Why should you care!!! You should care about one thing...that he is a Jew!!! that's it! nothing else. You MUST be Dan lekaf Zechus! It says this is the Silver Spring "JEWISH" Blog! Whats going on here?!?
Another elevator that has not reached it's top floor
no, we already mentioned that mark's elevator doesn't reach his top floor. I don't think he has a top floor. Im not sure why there are jews here who refuse to act the way they are supposed to as jews. The rabbonim come out with a kol korei saying we should try to free him....and the silver spring "jews" decide they are wrong. Go as any rabbi you want!!
Who the heck is this MalachHamovies guy? pray tell, if Mr pollard is not being held captive, what is he? Doing time for a crime is called being held captive!! Yes it is!! Go ask your rabbi if Jonathan Pollard is a case of pidyon shvuyim. I dare you!!!
when to apply pidyon shvuyim:
Whenever there is a jew who has been taken captive (yes, prison is included)
Post a Comment