Chicago, IL – As the effort to gain clemency for Jonathan Pollard continues to grow, the Chicago-based Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr. wrote to President Obama and called upon him to free Pollard.
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What makes Rabbi Funnye’s call for clemency so unique is that Funnye is related to the President. Rabbi Funnye’s mother, Verdelle Robinson Funnye, and First Lady Michelle Obama’s paternal grandfather, Frasier Robinson, Jr., were brother and sister, which makes Funnye and Michelle Obama first cousins, once removed.
Rabbi Funnye is a Jewish African American who serves as the chief rabbi of the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago, which is one of the largest black synagogues in America. He is a co-founder of the Alliance of Black Jews and a Senior Research Associate for the Institute of Jewish and Community Research, located in San Francisco, California. Rabbi Funnye is the first African-American member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis.
“Jonathan Pollard has served over 25 years in prison for a crime that he has expressed great remorse publicly and privately for committing against our country,” wrote Rabbi Funnye in his letter to the President. “I write to add my voice to the many voices that have appealed to you for clemency by commuting Jonathan Pollard’s sentence to time served.”
My feeling is that Obama is not man enough to take the flack associated with letting Pollard free. I will give credit to Rabbi Capers Funnye for trying.
Aint it funny? Is this his real name? I am asking because Obama’s Rabbi? That sounds funny. Especially when he is a 1st cousin to the President.
since when does a muslim have arabbi – he has an imam
Maybe Obama’s Rabbi, Lebron’s Rabbi and Michael Jackson’s Rabbis can get together someday.
You people don’t understand??
Obama will not free him! Period. He is not up for the political backfire he will have to deal with if he frees him!!!
I wonder is he FFB or make beleive
So Glen Beck was right. Obama is not a Muslim he’s Jewish.
Why should the prez go out of his way to free Polard when Israel makes a mockery of him and aren’t willing to freeze the construction even temporarily?
This man is as much a Jew and a rabbi as is Obama, but it makes for good press the First Lady having a “rabbi” as a cousin.
# 1 – well said. Although might I add that, more than the credit I give him for trying, I give him credit for having a name like Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr.
I don’t get it. Here’s a guy supporting Pollard, but the message is lost because he’s a convert related to the president’s wife. And it’s worth pointing out that both President Clinton and President Bush also refused to pardon the felon.
If he is an orthodox rabbi he is a rabbi. No matter what his skin color.
I mention Bush & Clinton only to show there’s bipartisan agreement regarding his sentence (which was supposedly influenced by Republican Caspar Weinberger’s input.)
Why should I show a felon like Pollard respect? Did he spy just for Israel? No. Did he turn over documents out of the goodness of his heart? Al Kiddush HaShem? No & No. He did it for the money. Has he shown one ounce of regret? Remorse? Rehabilitation? No. No. No.
Commuting his sentence wouldn’t harm anything, but it would set a dangerous precedent for spies sharing intel with other allies. Would we feel the same if it were close allies like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ukraine, Yemen, India, Morocco, Pakistan….????