For many years, the name Jonathan Pollard was a household name for every girl and boy in Israel. Pollard was mentioned in prayers and in other instances as part of the campaign to secure the release of the convicted Israeli spy.
But this was not always the case: During the first years after his capture, the vast majority of Israelis wanted nothing to do with him. The unprecedented diplomatic rift between Israel and the US, and the efforts to deescalate things vis-a-vis the US administrations had the Israeli government and intelligence community disown him. Apart from private initiatives by various MKs, Pollard was left to his own devices for many years.
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Pollard also divorced his first wife just after she was released from prison. But instead of then disappearing into oblivion, a new woman entered his life, which led to a dramatic shift in how Israeli governments and Israelis viewed him. Elaine Zeitz, who later became Esther Pollard, took it upon herself to make his release her life's mission, knowing full-well how much of a burden this could be on her narrow shoulders.
Their first interaction was through lengthy mail correspondence. In 1993 they married, with Esther knowing that this meant a very extraordinary marriage and that his release date was anything but certain. From the moment she took on this mission, she would meet with senior rabbis, influencers and activists and became an army of one, totally devoted to her cause.
Her campaign made Pollard a household name, and a prayer calling for his release became part of many services at synagogues. His release was also a topic of discussion whenever prime ministers met with their US counterparts.
Whenever I met the couple I could see the smitten Pollard looking with adoring eyes at his wife, feeling the gratitude he felt toward her. Esther, whom I got to know first hand, was a powerful woman with unbelievable strengths that was determined to bring him home. Without her, there was a real risk of no one pursuing his cause.
She saw her mission as part of the Jewish duty of pidyon shvuyim, the release of captive Jews. She paid dearly for this effort, but not once did she fear or regret this.
There is much more to tell about her courageous actions. But it is important to say loud and clear: Israel lost a daring, determined, and trailblazing woman who managed to rally a nation to a cause.
Being known as the wife of Jonathan Pollard was a badge of honor, a well-deserved citation of merit for displaying courage in the face of adversity. The thousands who attended her funeral, from all sectors of Israeli society, can attest to that.
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