Baruch Hashem, less than a week after being found not guilty by a local court, Yoel Zev Goldstein received his passport and is making final preparations to head home, to Eretz Yisrael.

One of the problems that remain is just what flight to book to get him home since there are no direct flights to Israel. Officials working on Yoel’s behalf feel if they make a stopover in a European country he may be placed under arrest since he is wanted in Holland, where he boarded the flight with a suitcase containing the drugs leading to his arrest. Therefore, a European country is not a suitable option. It appears that he will make his way home via Korea or the United States.

Family members were relieved to learn that the prosecutor is not planning to appeal the verdict, clearing the way for his departure from Japan. Nevertheless, askanim explain that while the prosecution is not planning an appeal, the state may actually decide to appeal to the Supreme Court, and therefore, the tzibur is called upon to continue davening on Yoel’s behalf – that this should not be the case chas v’sholom.

Continue to be mispallel for Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel and Yoel Zev ben Mirel Risa Chava.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CLICK HERE TO BE MEKAYEM PIDYON SHIVUYIM IN ASSISTING THE BOCHRIM STILL IN JAPAN PRISON!!

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)