After much suffering, the bachur Yosef Banda, one of the three youths imprisoned in Japan for drug smuggling, landing in Eretz Yisrael close to midnight, meeting with his parents and family for the first time in two years. The young prisoner arrived escorted by two Japanese policemen.
Seeking to avoid the large media presence at the airport, police acted as if they were leaving with the prisoner, but took him to an office inside the airport complex where he was reunited with his family.
Waiting for him upon his arrival were Deputy Minister R’ Meir Porush and HaGaon HaRav Dovid Grossman Shlita.
Banda will be serving the remainder of his sentence in Nitzan Prison, and as such, he will be entitled to weekly family visits, on erev shabbos.
The Japanese court sentenced Yosef to 5 years imprisonment and a $40,000, and after calculating time served, he still has a bit over 18 months that will be completed in an Israeli prison.
The tzibur is requested to continue including Yosef ben Ita Rivka, Yoel Zev ben Mirel Reesa Chava and Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel in tefillos.
IMPORTANT NOTE: CLICK HERE TO BE MEKAYEM PIDYON SHIVUYIM IN ASSISTING THE BOCHRIM STILL IN JAPAN PRISON!!
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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10 Responses
Baruch Hashem! Such good news.
Is there a reason to think that the other three will be treated differently?
Boruch Hashem!!!
Much thanks also to all askonim involved, and to those who davened for, and contributed to this cause.
May the good news continue!
to number 2 there is only another two there were three altogether
Sorry, I meant the other two.
Is there reason to worry that some will get more stringent sentences than others, or does this news mean that we can expect this to happen for the others?
I feel so happy for that mother. May the rest of the mothers of those unfortunate bochurim be zoche to see them in freedom. Amen!
#2/5: The prosecution in Japan is asking for a harsher sentence for the other two boys because Yosef Banda was a minor at the time of the offense, as opposed to the other two who were not. These boys are in great need of rachamei shamayim so it’s not time to breathe a sigh of relief. Don’t relax! Daven hard! We can’t assume that the other boys will get away with a soft sentence after which they will be wisked off to Israel to finish up another 18 months in an Israeli prison. And don’t forget to include Yehonoson ben Malka and Gilad ben Aviva in your tefillos for pidyon shevuyim.
wow baruch hashem
Chaverim – please pay attention! I have lived in Japan; I know how they feel. PLEASE be sure that anything you write or say is very respectful, courteous and undemanding. Be assured that Japanese individuals, and the authorities, are interested in how we (frum Yidden) think and behave. They will value our sincere efforts on behalf of our fellow Jews if we behave as I suggested above. Japan is not the USA, and Japanese are not moved by any perceived attempts to persuade them outside of their legal system. Thanks! Toda raba; arrigato gozaimasu!
baruch hashem i hope his 2 friends could come to eretz yisroel to