Jonathan Pollard leaves a New York court house following his release from prison on November 20, 2015 in New York, New York. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
1.
At 3am Wednesday morning, Jonathan and Esther Pollard landed in Israel. Their arrival was a surprise. Not surprise in the metaphysical sense – we all knew they intended to come. It was a surprise in the operational sense – we did not know it was coming today. Very few Israelis had prior knowledge that they were coming today.
Thus, Israel did not prepare for the event. And of course, this is by design. No preparation means no festival of media attention and public gatherings, no live coverage, no flags on roadsides, no bombastic speeches. A surprise enabled Israel to keep Pollard’s aliya a low-key event. As it wanted it to be. As it needed it to be.
2.
Why did it happen now? Because Esther Pollard, whose health is not well, was able to travel. Because Israel wanted to wrap up this drama before the change of administration in Washington. It is good for the Trump administration to be seen as the one who gave Pollard and Israel this last gift before its departure. It is good for the Biden administration not to have this hot potato complicating its relations with Israel. It is good for Israel to get this issue off the main road of US-Israel relations when a new chapter is about to begin.
It is good for Israel to get this issue off the main road of US-Israel relations when a new chapter is about to begin.
Netanyahu was still there, at the airport, to say hello, to recite a blessing, to issue a press release. One might ask: If Israel wanted this to be low key why wake the PM up so early in the morning and have him travel to the airport? The answer is twofold. One – because low key is one thing and a complete silence is quite another. Israel is walking a fine line here. It does want to communicate its appreciation for Pollard and its remorse for all that he had to suffer and its responsibility in cooking this sorrow event of many years ago. Two – there is an election coming, and the release of Pollard is still an asset for the PM. So, as he balanced all the reasons for keeping this a low-key event and all the benefit he could gain from still taking credit for Pollard’s coming – he chose a middle road.
4.
This is an old and tired and sad story. There is no point rehashing it. We should all let the Pollards be. We should let them enjoy the time they still have under Israel’s sun. We – Americans and Israelis – should forget, and, if possible, also forgive. It is time.
Just as Moses and Aaron had proven their God-approved mettle, “the new federal constitution,” which, in Franklin’s view, had “been unreasonably and vehemently opposed,” would ultimately prevail by God’s grace.
In handing Tehran the keys to lock up the region without a fight, Trump would become the first American president to sign away his country’s right to ply international waters freely.
Sometimes the soul arrives before the explanation does. And sometimes, just before dawn, the world becomes quiet enough for us to notice the first light.
Despite the anti-Israel, anti-Zionist sentiment poisoning so many institutions and people, Herbert Block, executive director of the American Zionist Movement, is optimistic about the Jewish community’s response it.
There’s no bigger sign of failure than to consider a return to the status quo at Hormuz a “great deal.” Never mind that Iran will no doubt use the Strait as leverage in the future.
Signing an agreement with the remnants of this crumbling regime is tantamount to no agreement at all. This cast of sorry diplomats is duplicity incarnate.
These Palestinian filmmakers didn’t need any excuse to crush an artist. All they needed to know was that Lapid was Israeli. Never mind that he supports boycotting the country they hate.
Only humans can create things from scratch. Machines are brilliant at taking that “scratch” and running with it, but if there’s no human content in its digital brain, a machine is useless in front of a blank page.
We are meant to be learners. Our values guide our path, and our curious, thoughtful questions lead to a greater understanding of who we are meant to become.
Pollard in Israel: Four Comments
Shmuel Rosner
1.
At 3am Wednesday morning, Jonathan and Esther Pollard landed in Israel. Their arrival was a surprise. Not surprise in the metaphysical sense – we all knew they intended to come. It was a surprise in the operational sense – we did not know it was coming today. Very few Israelis had prior knowledge that they were coming today.
Thus, Israel did not prepare for the event. And of course, this is by design. No preparation means no festival of media attention and public gatherings, no live coverage, no flags on roadsides, no bombastic speeches. A surprise enabled Israel to keep Pollard’s aliya a low-key event. As it wanted it to be. As it needed it to be.
2.
Why did it happen now? Because Esther Pollard, whose health is not well, was able to travel. Because Israel wanted to wrap up this drama before the change of administration in Washington. It is good for the Trump administration to be seen as the one who gave Pollard and Israel this last gift before its departure. It is good for the Biden administration not to have this hot potato complicating its relations with Israel. It is good for Israel to get this issue off the main road of US-Israel relations when a new chapter is about to begin.
Netanyahu was still there, at the airport, to say hello, to recite a blessing, to issue a press release. One might ask: If Israel wanted this to be low key why wake the PM up so early in the morning and have him travel to the airport? The answer is twofold. One – because low key is one thing and a complete silence is quite another. Israel is walking a fine line here. It does want to communicate its appreciation for Pollard and its remorse for all that he had to suffer and its responsibility in cooking this sorrow event of many years ago. Two – there is an election coming, and the release of Pollard is still an asset for the PM. So, as he balanced all the reasons for keeping this a low-key event and all the benefit he could gain from still taking credit for Pollard’s coming – he chose a middle road.
4.
This is an old and tired and sad story. There is no point rehashing it. We should all let the Pollards be. We should let them enjoy the time they still have under Israel’s sun. We – Americans and Israelis – should forget, and, if possible, also forgive. It is time.
Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.
Editor's Picks
Israel and the Internet Wars – A Professional Social Media Review
The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC
What Ever Happened to the LA Times?
Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?
You’re Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House
No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center
Latest Articles
What Will Bibi Do?
Don’t Forget the People: The Iran Ceasefire Must Protect Civilians
A Holocaust-Era Heroine for the Ages in ‘The Goddess of Warsaw’
Trump’s Civilizational Moment
Trump’s New Iran Deal Leaves Israel to Confront Old Dangers Alone
When ‘Peace’ Breaks Out
Benjamin Franklin, Korah, and the Battle for the Constitution
Just as Moses and Aaron had proven their God-approved mettle, “the new federal constitution,” which, in Franklin’s view, had “been unreasonably and vehemently opposed,” would ultimately prevail by God’s grace.
We Need a Long-Term Strategy to Deal with Iran
In handing Tehran the keys to lock up the region without a fight, Trump would become the first American president to sign away his country’s right to ply international waters freely.
Hope Is Not a Foreign Policy
The “deal,” as far as is known right now, is simply a 60-day extension of the ceasefire. The can will be kicked down the road.
A Heavenly Service
During these days when it is so easy to succumb to despair, religious services can serve as a wonderful antidote to hopelessness. Especially this one.
What My Soul Knows Before I Do
Sometimes the soul arrives before the explanation does. And sometimes, just before dawn, the world becomes quiet enough for us to notice the first light.
Jewish Caucus Stands Up
One of the best-kept secrets in California politics is the effectiveness and growing influence of the Legislative Jewish Caucus.
The ‘On’ Button. You Can Only Get There from the ‘Off ‘Button.
AZM’s Herbert Block on Staying Proudly Zionist in a Difficult Time
Despite the anti-Israel, anti-Zionist sentiment poisoning so many institutions and people, Herbert Block, executive director of the American Zionist Movement, is optimistic about the Jewish community’s response it.
Did Trump and Bibi Lose to a Strait Flush?
There’s no bigger sign of failure than to consider a return to the status quo at Hormuz a “great deal.” Never mind that Iran will no doubt use the Strait as leverage in the future.
Pasadena Magazine: Sailing Tahiti in Style on Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze
Regime Change, Interrupted
Signing an agreement with the remnants of this crumbling regime is tantamount to no agreement at all. This cast of sorry diplomats is duplicity incarnate.
An Israeli Leftist Gets Mugged by Reality
These Palestinian filmmakers didn’t need any excuse to crush an artist. All they needed to know was that Lapid was Israeli. Never mind that he supports boycotting the country they hate.
Sinai Temple Gala, Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance, ‘Jewish Tomorrow’ Podcast
Notable people and events in the Jewish LA community.
Have You Found Your Mission?
Life demands that we find meaning, and with it comes a sense of purpose that gives us the strength to endure.
Artificial Everything: The More AI Grows, the Blander it Becomes
Only humans can create things from scratch. Machines are brilliant at taking that “scratch” and running with it, but if there’s no human content in its digital brain, a machine is useless in front of a blank page.
Small Eyes – A poem for Parsha Sh’lach
So they knew where it was this whole time…
A Bisl Torah — A Real Graduation Message
We are meant to be learners. Our values guide our path, and our curious, thoughtful questions lead to a greater understanding of who we are meant to become.
A Moment in Time: “29 Years in the Rabbinate”
Moses Found Brevity to be the Soul of Levity and Wit
Sleepless in Jerusalem, Mad About the Knicks
I’ve been a sports nut my whole life, so it was no big deal to be up in the middle of the night to follow a major sporting event.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.