““Redemption of Redemption of Captives”Captives”

Maymon Pe’erMaymon Pe’er

Community ShaliachCommunity Shaliach

March 2008March 2008

Nine Israeli soldiers are in Nine Israeli soldiers are in captivity or missing in captivity or missing in

actionaction

Gilad ShalitGilad Shalit

Eldad RegevEldad Regev

Udi GoldwasserUdi Goldwasser

Ron Arad – 16Ron Arad – 16thth of October, of October, 19861986

Zachariah Baumel – 11Zachariah Baumel – 11thth of June, of June, 19821982

Yehuda Katz – 11Yehuda Katz – 11thth of June, of June, 19821982

Zvi Feldman – 11Zvi Feldman – 11thth of June, of June, 19821982

Missing…Missing…

Guy Hever – – 17th 17th of of August, 1997 August, 1997

Majdi Halabi – – 24th of 24th of May, May, 2005 2005

Mutual ResponsibilityMutual Responsibility

Abraham the Patriarch gave his life to save Abraham the Patriarch gave his life to save Lot who had been captured by the four kings. Lot who had been captured by the four kings.

(Genesis 12: 12).(Genesis 12: 12).

The children of Israel fought Arad, the The children of Israel fought Arad, the Canaanite king who occupied the Negev, Canaanite king who occupied the Negev, after he had taken Jews into captivity. after he had taken Jews into captivity. (Numbers 31: 1-3) (Numbers 31: 1-3)

King David went to war to save his family King David went to war to save his family from captivity. (Samuel I 30:2)from captivity. (Samuel I 30:2)

MaimonidesMaimonides

Redemption of captives comes Redemption of captives comes

before the livelihood and shelter of before the livelihood and shelter of

the poor, as there is no greater the poor, as there is no greater

Mitzvah than the redemption of Mitzvah than the redemption of

captives, for the captive is among captives, for the captive is among

the starving and the thirsty and the the starving and the thirsty and the

naked and is in mortal danger. And naked and is in mortal danger. And

whoever shuts his eyes to his whoever shuts his eyes to his

redemption commits these offenses:redemption commits these offenses:

"Thou shalt not harden thy heart nor "Thou shalt not harden thy heart nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother; shut thy hand from thy needy brother; but thou shalt surely open thy hand but thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him." (Deuteronomy 15: 7-8)unto him." (Deuteronomy 15: 7-8)

"Thou shalt not stand idly by the "Thou shalt not stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor." (Leviticus 19: blood of thy neighbor." (Leviticus 19: 16)16)

And the Mitzvah of: "And thy brother And the Mitzvah of: "And thy brother may live with thee." (Leviticus 25: 36)may live with thee." (Leviticus 25: 36)

"And thou shalt love thy neighbor as "And thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Exodus 19: 18)thyself." (Exodus 19: 18)

And, "Deliver them that are drawn And, "Deliver them that are drawn unto death." (Proverbs 24: 11)unto death." (Proverbs 24: 11)

Chazal, the Hebrew sages, Chazal, the Hebrew sages, said:said:

"It is forbidden to redeem "It is forbidden to redeem captives for more than captives for more than

their worth before tikun their worth before tikun olam (repairing the world)."olam (repairing the world)."

There are three exceptions to this There are three exceptions to this rule:rule:

If the captives are Torah scholarsIf the captives are Torah scholars

If they are in imminent mortal If they are in imminent mortal dangerdanger

If the public is duty-bound to redeem If the public is duty-bound to redeem them due to the circumstances of them due to the circumstances of their capturetheir capture

The The question of pricequestion of price is at is at the center of public debatethe center of public debate

During the Chazal (Hebrew sages) period – During the Chazal (Hebrew sages) period – Money in exchange for captivesMoney in exchange for captives

1948-1982 – Soldiers in exchange for 1948-1982 – Soldiers in exchange for soldiers (between countries)soldiers (between countries)

Since 1982 – Terrorists in exchange for Since 1982 – Terrorists in exchange for soldierssoldiers

On the one hand:On the one hand:

FreedomFreedom

“…“…And He brought us out of bondage to And He brought us out of bondage to freedom.”freedom.”

Human LifeHuman Life

"One who saves a single soul it is as if he "One who saves a single soul it is as if he has saved an entire world."has saved an entire world."..

Mutual ResponsibilityMutual Responsibility

"All Jews are responsible for one another.""All Jews are responsible for one another."

On the other hand:On the other hand: The question of priceThe question of price Should we pay Should we pay anyany price? What’s a reasonable price? What’s a reasonable

price?price?

The question of a public threatThe question of a public threat What danger to the public is created by What danger to the public is created by

releasing terrorists?releasing terrorists?

The question of punishmentThe question of punishment What’s the significance of punishment and What’s the significance of punishment and

deterrence?deterrence?

Past prisoner exchange Past prisoner exchange dealsdeals:: 2626thth of March, 1983:of March, 1983:

Eight Eight Nahal soldiers were returned from LebanonNahal soldiers were returned from Lebanon In exchange for: 4,700 terrorists and 65 prisonersIn exchange for: 4,700 terrorists and 65 prisoners

20th of May, 1985: The Jibril Deal20th of May, 1985: The Jibril Deal Three [live] captured soldiers (Hezi Shai, Yosef Grof Three [live] captured soldiers (Hezi Shai, Yosef Grof

and Nissim Salem) were releasedand Nissim Salem) were released In exchange for: 1,150 terrorists In exchange for: 1,150 terrorists

19th of January, 2004 – The Tannenbaum Deal19th of January, 2004 – The Tannenbaum Deal Three bodies of IDF soldiers (Benny Abraham, Adi Three bodies of IDF soldiers (Benny Abraham, Adi

Avitan and Omar Suede, z”l) were returned along Avitan and Omar Suede, z”l) were returned along with the [live] abducted civilian, Elchanan with the [live] abducted civilian, Elchanan TannenbaumTannenbaum

In exchange for: 400 Palestinian and 23 Lebanese In exchange for: 400 Palestinian and 23 Lebanese prisoners, including the infamous Mustafa Dirani and prisoners, including the infamous Mustafa Dirani and Sheikh Abdul Kareem ObeidSheikh Abdul Kareem Obeid

And the children shall return And the children shall return to their borders… to their borders…

And let us pray…And let us pray…

"Our brothers of the House of Israel, "Our brothers of the House of Israel,

who are in trouble and in captivity, who are in trouble and in captivity,

whether at sea or on land, may G-d whether at sea or on land, may G-d

have mercy on them and lead them have mercy on them and lead them

from distress to relief, from darkness from distress to relief, from darkness

to light, from bondage to redemption, to light, from bondage to redemption,

and so may it be in the near future.” and so may it be in the near future.”

AmenAmen

Thank youThank you