Yesterday, Dr. Simcha Katz, president of the Orthodox Union – the largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization in the United States, transmitted a letter to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden urging clemency for Jonathan Pollard.

Dr. Katz’s letter comes as supporters of Pollard’s clemency raise his case to the President’s attention ahead of a trip to the U.S. by Israel’s president – Shimon Peres – to receive the Medal of Freedom from President Obama.

Dr. Katz’s letter states, in part:

“As the Vice President is aware, I joined with other American Jewish leaders to discuss this delicate matter with him in depth on November 21, 2011…” While I do not “excuse or dismiss the grave transgressions Mr. Pollard committed.” I do, however, “believe… clemency on humanitarian grounds is warranted.”

Dr. Katz and the leadership of the Orthodox Union are hopeful that this appeal, joined with the many others made in support of clemency, will achieve this just goal.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)