Shalom from Israel - Compassion for prisoners in short supply

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while... I have been asked to distribute this letter, sent to President Obama, a compassionate plea for an Israeli prisoner by his daughter.  Blessings for happiness, Janna


Revital Edri

Migdal Haemek, Israel

[Address and Telephone No. deleted]

10 April 2012

President Barack Obama

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

Shalom from Israel


I am a daughter of an Israeli prison inmate named Jacob Hassan, who is jailed for the last 26 years in Israel, for the murder of his wife, my mother, and of a social worker.


My father, Jacob Hassan, was jailed in Israel near the time when Jonathan Pollard was jailed in the U.S for spying for Israel.


Since my father was imprisoned he has not stop agonizing and repenting for the disaster he had inflicted on two families and especially on us, his own four children. In One day we lost both a mother and a father.


Not even For One moment will I justify my father's actions.

My father's behavior in prison for years has been exemplary and for years he won many certificates of excellence and recognition. For 24 years my father ran the prison laundry wonderfully and the prison authorities made a lot of money while my father managed the laundry by himself.

Since my father was imprisoned he was not allowed to go on vacations, neither for a day nor for a few hours. Even us, his children, who have suffered because of my father's actions wish the prison authorities let him leave the prison for a few hours to meet his grandchildren. In the End of the day my father is still their grandfather. My father's grandchildren can't choose another grandfather.

Many years ago, the prison authorities permitted my father to go on vacation for a few hours. However, although the prison authorities have agreed to let my father to leave on vacation for a few hours, another "family violence committee", whose members are not known, stubbornly refuses to allow my father to go on vacation using several different excuses each time. Therefore without the consent of the "family violence committee" my father could not go on vacation for the past 26 years. Once the committee even claimed that my father would be dangerous to his partner while on vacation; however his partner, my mother, has been buried for the past 26 years…


I had not mentioned that the "family violence committee" is composed solely of social workers, the second victim's colleagues. The chairman of the social workers organization informed, and even organized petitions, that his organization would never agree on letting my father out on vacation. Important to mention that my father doesn't ask to be released out the prison completely, all he wants is to go on vacation for a few hours.


I decided to write to you Mr. President of the United States after the Israeli President Shimon Peres addressed you, at the pressure of Israeli Knesset members, to release Jonathan Pollard. After it was published in the Israeli media that you refused the appeal of Mr. Peres, claimed MK Ronit Tirosh on Israel's Channel 2 broadcast on 10.4.12 that the refusal to free Jonathan Pollard is the vengeance of the Americans, so clearly she said.


I laughed to myself because in regard of my father, who has been regretting his crime every day, hour by hour and minute by minute, the claim of revenge from the "family violence Committee" is denied but in regard Jonathan Pollard there is such a claim towards the Americans. This shoes hoe Israelis know to criticize the other hypocrisy but they are not able to look at themselves in the mirror.

I myself call for the release of Jonathan Pollard, he had been in jail a long time, but if the President of Israel is facing you to completely release Pollard from prison perhaps you will ask the State of Israel to release my father from prison just for a few hours as it is acceptable with many prisoners in Israel.

I thank you in advance.

With respect,

Revital Edri

Daughter of Jacob Hassan

Copy: Mr. Shimon Peres, the president of Israel

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Comment by Janna on April 14, 2012 at 10:08pm

In Tibetan, the word usually translated as 'Buddhist' is 'nangba' - 'ba' is like the -er in teacher, painter, worker; 'nang' means 'in' or 'inside.' A spiritual practitioner is one who looks inward, to find the root of suffering within oneself, in order to uproot it.

I'm not sure who the 'we' in your comment refers to. It seems that many of us are 'messing around' in other people's business with wrong intentions, rather than extending a kind helping hand, and that applies generally, to the human situation. In the specific case, the committee, the prison authority, the people who hired these people, who gave them their authority, and allow for this harmful activity to continue, seem not beholden to anyone, and so calling for outside and international attention can help them to 'wake up,' if not fully, then at least to begin to generate some positive intentions in the right directon. Genuine, sincere, heartfelt concern for others is very important. We would all do well to stop 'messing around,' to sit and meditate on compassion, instead of harming others, and to help others if we possibly can.

Comment by Carter (PDN Admin) on April 12, 2012 at 1:43pm

Thank you, Janna. 

This is a compelling situation.  In nations as well as in individuals, it is easier to see the crimes & indiscretions of "the other" over one's own crimes & indiscretions.

It begs the question, "who's business are we messing around in?"  

I hope Obama responds.

Warmly,

Carter  - PDN Staff

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