Following a 1:00AM pardon by former President Donald Trump, Eli Weinstein of Lakewood and Shalom Weiss were both been freed from prison on Wednesday afternoon.
Weinstein had served 8 years of a 22 year sentence. Weiss had served 18 years of a 835 year sentence.
Moshe Margaretten of the Tzedek Association was extremely instrumental in securing both of their releases from prison.
Margaretten was at the prison when Weiss was released, and spoke via video-chat to Weinstein when he was released.
The request for a commutation by Sholam Weiss was supported by: Rabbi Dovid Zwiebel of the Agudath Israel of America, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), CAN-DO Foundation, Cong Yetev Lev D’Satmar, Central Rabbinical Congress (CRC) of USA and Canada, Grand Rabbi of Satmar rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum and Mivtzar Hakolilem of Kiryas Joel.
Attorneys including Professor Alan Dershowitz, Jay Sekulow and Shon Hopwood have written letters of support and called for his release.
Geoldim had written letters for Eli Weinstein, including Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, the Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva, and the Boyaner Rebbe.
His family was there to greet him as we walked out of prison, and was seen on video-chat with Moshe Margaretten of the Tzedek Association.
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24 Responses
Neither were pardoned. Their sentences were commuted.
The Wolf
This “pardon” (actually commutation) is the “easy” one to get.
Ultimately, however, what is needed is a pardon from Almighty G-d, מלך מלכי המלכים, הקדוש ברוך הוא. Let us not forget that.
President Trump is a true Oheiv Yisroel. He had nothing to gain by giving all these Yidden their freedom. Yet he’s done so, much as he’s spent his entire life helping Jews.
PLEASE, THESE PEOPLE ARE CROOKS WHON DESERVED THE TIME THEY SERVED, DON’T MAKE THEM INTO HEROES
It’s amazing how much President Trump has done for am yisrael!
And it’s mind boggling that Hashem had decreed an end to his presidency by means of a open in-your-face robbery and to add insult to the injury, 2500 sworn affidavits on voter fraud not picked up by the DOJ or any court of law including the SCOTUS! To be humiliated by the twitter CEO while still a sitting president!
im happy for them and there families ,just hold on to your wallets cant wait for the speaking tours
@mo613 if Shulam Weiss speaking tour consist of going to schools and saying I was in jail twice for two separate crimes and spent more then half my adult life locked up with some of the lowest people on earth, crime does not pay, Eliyahu Weinstein speaking tour should be if someone offers you something that is too good to be true run for the hills inspite of the fact he is a chusiver bal tzidokah with a high end suv and fancy house
Well, just seeing their happy glowing faces, should make us all really happy that we are free men- who hopefully never sat one day in jail!
P.S. when I made the bracha shelo asani goy today, I had in mind even President Biden.
@commonsaychel: Why do you have to open your anti-Semitic mouth? Seriously, why? Answer the question, please.
No one is making them into heroes! Can you not find it in you to let their family and friends celebrate a little, after they spent the last 8/18 years in prison? Why can’t you just be happy for two Yidden and their families? Why can’t you fargin a few Yidden a little happiness? Why can’t you just say mazel tov and stay out of it? Why do you appear to have never been informed of the existence of the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim?
If you believe that one of the above two Yidden owes you money, I apologize; while I still believe what I said above, I can’t judge you. I hope they pay you back the entire debt in full.
Mazel tov to the two Yidden above and their families and friends! Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov! Klal Yisroel is so happy for you!
Thank you to our beloved former president, Donald John Trump! We love you and miss you so much already!
I wonder? Are all these Rabbanim/Askanim going to bail out the future victims of this kleptomaniac?
It seems nowadays, if your Frum then “crime DOES pay”
Ribono Shel Oilum!! Where’s the Seichel? Where’s the responsibility? Where’s the concern for SOFEK Chillul Hashem?
Regardless of the fact that the sentence may have been indeed been draconian,outrages, unjust, etc. etc. Regardless if indeed it’s a Mitzvah of Pidyon Shvuim. Regardless if it’s a big simcha. Do you really need to publicize this ‘hero’s homecoming gala’? Do you know who might be viewing it and what sentiment it evokes?
I ask this of the “photographer” (isn’t everyone today?) who sent this in and I ask it of YWN.
Trump can not commute the eternal chillul Hashem.
Only the Yom Hamaves can do that(Yuma 87)
@Yashar, they are being made into heroes because of articles, photos and videos such as these. It also gives the impression that the frum community couldn’t care less about the crimes these people did. In my opinion, these freed prisoners should slink quietly home and whoever needs to know about it should hear through word of mouth.
@Yashar, I am not Anti-Semitic, I am anti ganif, the same aresrs hadris that says anochi hashem also says lo signof, if they would have kept it lowkey and not make a trosk about it I would not have an issue, but the in your face attitude from the celebration is sickening The busha is gone.
I don’t think the din of piston shvuyin applies to a case where the stole and swindled and were caught and had a chance to defend themselves.
Rabbi Akiva went in peace and came out in peace. Trump freed Shalom Rubashkin and shalom Weiss.
@commonsaychel: Sorry; I didn’t see your comments until now. You make good points.
@rebetzin: Though you as well make good points, your phraseology displays true anti-Semitism. Please slink back to your little anti-Semitic hole yourself, thanks.
@Yankel-der-ganef: Of course it does! You think there was no chiyuv to rescue the yiddele from the poritz in all the stories? I know there’s a difference, but I believe you are incorrect. I presume that the mitzvah exists any time the punishment is not in accordance with din torah. I don’t know the sugya, though. I may be wrong. My main point was regarding the sentiment, anyways.
@commonsaychel: I’m especially sorry since I specifically asked you to respond. Basically, I had closed the tab by mistake. Sorry. I only just happened to reopen this article now when I happened to see it. I hope you see my response to you (though I know that at this point you probably won’t). Thanks for taking the time to answer me in the first place.
@commonsaychel: Also, whoops, I forgot to add: I apologize for calling you an anti-Semite. Please forgive me.
@yashar, apology accepted , one favor please, think twice before using the word anti semite, I would take off my shirt to help a fellow Jews.
FYI, Weiss did tremendous damage to the image of Frum people who own Insurance carriers, they have 3 times the red tape because of this.
@commonsaychel: Thank you, yes, I’m sure you would.
TYW: Still happy??? Sometimes people are put in jail to protect society from them….
kinsler was right