Write a Letter to Evan Gershkovich, the Jailed WSJ Reporter

This Rosh Hashanah, Jews around the world are coming together to show their support for Evan Gershkovich, the Jewish American Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested while researching a story in Russia on March 29 and charged with espionage. Both Evan and the Wall Street Journal vehemently deny the charges.

Evan, 31, has been held in prison for months. His only contact with the world outside his prison cell has been letters from family and friends. This Rosh Hashanah, Jews are being invited to write letters of support to Evan.

“We are deeply concerned for Evan’s well-being,” explained Eric Fingerhut, CEO of the Jewish Federation of North America, which is organizing the campaign. “As Jews around the world will be gathering with loved ones during Rosh Hashanah, one of the most important acts we can do as a collective community is to let him know that we are thinking of him and standing with him in solidarity.”

Since the Russian authorities insist that all letters sent to Evan be translated into Russian and approved by prison officials, the Jewish Federations of North America is compiling all the letters it receives into one document that will be given to Evan’s lawyers. The full text of each individual letter will be sent to Evan’s distraught parents in New Jersey.

Along with countless other Jews, I sat down to write my own letter to Evan. Here it is:

Dear Evan,

By the time you read this, you’ll have been in prison for half a year. The Jewish High Holidays are approaching and I can’t imagine the fear and desperation you must feel as you contemplate marking a new year in your present surroundings. I’m writing to ask you not to despair.

Perhaps, after so many months in prison, you might think that you risk being forgotten. Nothing could be further from the truth: your Jewish brothers and sisters around the world are praying for you. We discuss you and your case. We support political initiatives to pressure Russia to free you. We tell our children about your bravery. We are inspired by you.

Last Passover, soon after your arrest, Jews around the globe set an extra place at their Seder tables to remind us all that you were not home for the holiday, and to spur us to pray for your return. Now that more months have gone by and Rosh Hashanah is upon us, we are rallying to your cause once again, sending letters to you and to your parents through the Jewish Federations of North America. We all hope that our support helps you keep your spirits up, and that our prayers help bring about your speedy release.

The Talmud teaches that “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba’zeh – All Jews are responsible for one another.” This is a core Jewish belief. Whenever one of us is in danger, we all have an obligation to help. Freeing Jewish captives is central in our religion. Throughout Jewish history, Jew have banded together to raise funds for ransoms when our fellow Jews were imprisoned. We have negotiated, cajoled, even embarked on daring rescues, to free Jewish captives. Evan, helping our fellow Jews in distress is in our spiritual DNA.

For thousands of years, we have intoned this timeless prayer: “Our brothers, the entire family of Israel, who are delivered into distress and captivity, whether they are on sea or dry land - may the Omnipresent One have mercy on them and remove them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, from subjugation to redemptions, now, speedily, and soon - and let us say: Amen.” Evan, this prayer galvanizes Jews to help each other. It makes sure we do all we can to help our brothers and sisters in need. It puts those who are imprisoned unjustly at the forefront of our memories and our national action. And we are saying it now, for you.

While you wait for your freedom, Evan, please don’t despair. There is something awe inspiring and powerful about the way the Jewish community is rallying to help you. Throughout history, when Jews have risen up to fight injustice and champion the truth, powerful changes have taken place. Your unjust imprisonment is now the Jewish people’s cause. As you sit in your solitary prison cell, know that you aren’t alone. The entire Jewish people is with you, praying and working on your behalf. We will not cease until you are freed.

Evan, we will never forget you.

As you embark upon the new Jewish year 5784, please remember that you do not enter this year alone. We Jews all over the world are entering it together: one people, one community, complete, sharing each other’s burdens and working on each other’s behalf. Shana tovah.

Yours,

Dr. Yvette Alt Miller

To write your own letter to Evan, click here. https://form.jotform.com/232394319702052 Letters are requested by Friday, September 15.