'He Shall Dwell in Isolation': Jonathan Pollard, Espionage and the International Jewish Community

[Purveyor]

By Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, 04/09/2013

In the Torah portions of Tazria-Metzora, we learn that one who has leprosy should be separated from the community: "He shall dwell in isolation; his dwelling shall be outside the camp" (Leviticus 13:46). The rabbis teach that this spiritual sickness and the necessary isolation from society are due to the wrongful use of words (see, for example, Leviticus Rabbah 16:1).

Jonathan Pollard, a former civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy, was found to have spied on his country, and in so doing he violated his oath to secrecy, jeopardized American security, and contributed to straining relations between Israel and America while receiving thousands of dollars for his work. According to one estimate, he would have earned about $600,000 over the 10-year period had he evaded capture. Once again, Pollard made both sides believe that he was a patriot instead of a gun for hire. When Pollard misused his words, he did great damage.

Anyone who engages in international espionage breaks his or her home country's laws in an effort to benefit another country. They know that if they are caught there will be severe consequences.

Pollard pleaded guilty to espionage, and it appeared that a plea deal might be on the table. However, Pollard proceeded to give an interview to the Jerusalem Post in which he cited classified documents and defended his behavior. The federal prosecutors regarded this as a violation of the plea deal, and in early 1987, then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger gave the court a classified document detailing the damage that Pollard's espionage had done. As a result, Pollard was sentenced to life in prison.

Pollard has served 26 years in prison as part of a life sentence handed down in 1987, and is in declining health. After such a long time, it can be argued, that deterrence has been more than demonstrated, and that Pollard should be released. Pollard, however, has never expressed regret for, or even acknowledged, damaging American intelligence, and he did not apply for parole when he was eligible.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/he-shall-dwell-in-isolation-jonathan-pollard-espionage-and-the-international-jewish-community_b_3045346.html

[frazzled]

1. Just curious

Do you also feel that Bradley Manning, also a United States (Army) member who had access to US intelligence and spied against his country by disseminating classified information, should receive life in prison?

I have no opinion, but I do think the cases are largely parallel. Except perhaps that Pollard was not intentionally spying against his country so much as feeding Israelis intelligence on Arab positionings of which the US was aware but was not sharing. Manning did it against his country. But both did damage to the national security. So, should Bradley Manning get life, too?

Also, I'd be careful with the "international Jewish community" lingo. It's about on the same order as calling all Muslims terrorists. There is no unitary international Jewish community.