The Orthodox Union Joins Fight for Jacob Ostreicher

Michael Cohen (NY State Political Director, OU), Rabbi Steven Burg (OU’s Managing Director and International Director of NCSY) and Assemblyman Dov Hikind

The Orthodox Union (OU) is one of the largest and most important Jewish resources. Over the last few days, I've had exceptional meetings with Rabbi Steven Burg, the OU’s Managing Director and International Director of NCSY; Michael Cohen, the OU’s NY State Political Director; and Nathan J. Diament, Director of the OU's Institute for Public Affairs. The OU is fully committed to helping Jacob Ostreicher, adding the weight of the 800 synagogues and many affiliates that they represent across America to this vital issue of freeing an innocent man. Their voice will be an important addition to the choir crying for Jacob Ostreicher's release.

It has been one year and four days since Jacob was taken prisoner in Bolivia. A petition to the White House, demanding President Obama’s attention to the issue, has more than 35,000 signatures. In addition, a Congressional Sub-Committee to address Ostreicher’s Human Rights violations is scheduled for tomorrow at 10 a.m.

This is not a Jewish issue. This is an American issue. This is about a U.S. citizen that’s being held hostage and we cannot afford a message to the world that U.S. citizens have no value. Our government must step in.