Rabbis Speak out for Sholom Rubashkin

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Katie Wiedemann

Story Created: Jan 12, 2009 at 9:09 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 12, 2009 at 10:38 PM CST

Dubuque - About a dozen rabbis from New York and across the country are asking for the release of former Agriprocessors CEO Sholom Rubashkin.

Rubashkin is being held without bail in the Dubuque County Jail, on charges stemming from an immigration raid at the meat packing plant back in May.
Now the rabbis, who are protesting the U.S. Attorney's, claim that Rubashkin is a flight risk.
After visiting Sholom Rubashkin in his jail cell, these Jewish leaders spoke out against the ruling that keeps Rubashkin behind bars.

Rabbi David Zwiebel said, "The use of the law of return as a factor in denying him bail and keeping him locked up for 9 months until his trial is set to begin."

In prior hearings prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney general's office said Israel's "law of return" which gives Jews the right to become Israeli citizens, is a large factor in calling Rubashkin a flight risk.

Rubashkin’s Attorney Guy Cook said, "They have asserted this so-called law of return which was designed to protect Jews from being persecuted and ironically use it against this man to detain him while he was pending trial."

This group says the entire Orthodox Jewish community is behind Rubashkin, and he knows how much that means.

Rabbi Yaakov Wasser said, "We really feel he does not represent a flight risk. Knowing him personally and knowing the effort other people are making, we really don't feel he's going to run. Also he has a family that needs him and misses him at home. "

The rabbis would not discuss whether or not they believe Rubashkin is guilty of a crime. They say that is up to the court to decide. They say they are simply asking Rubashkin be treated like any other United State's citizen.

And federal agents say when they searched Rubashkin's bedroom; they found 20-thousand dollars in cash and silver coins packed along with passports.

But his lawyer, Guy Cook, tells TV-9 those findings were taken out of context.

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