Jonathan Pollard is Engaged to a Lubavitcher Mother

By COLlive reporter

Od yishama b’arey Yehuda uv’chutzos Yerushalayim!

Jonathan Pollard, the former U.S. Navy analyst who spent three decades in prison for spying for Israel, is engaged to Rivka Abrahams-Donin, the couple announced on Wednesday.

After being released, Pollard and his second wife Esther Pollard (Elaine Zeitz) immigrated to the holy land of Israel on December 30, 2020. Esther, who married Jonathan during his prison sentence, contracted Covid-19 and tragically passed away on January 31, 2022.

Pollard, 68, has been living in Jerusalem and is typically warmly greeted by residents and tourists.

Donin, 45, is a Lubavitcher resident of Jerusalem. She is the granddaughter of the British Jewish Sergeant Karl Abrahams who helped capture Rudolf Hoess, the Nazi who oversaw the deaths of 2.5 million people as commander of the Auschwitz extermination camp.

Her husband was R’ Yosef Eliyahu Donin, a chossid known for manning Chabad’s Tefillin stand at the Kotel. He tragically passed at the age of 55 in 2015, leaving her with 7 children.

In their public statement, Pollard and Donin wrote that it was through Esther Pollard that the two became acquainted:

“How can I repay the Lord for all of his bountiful deals towards me? (Psalm 116:12).

“With praise and thanks to Hashem, we are excited to announce our engagement

“We are full of gratitude to you, our friends and family members, and our dear children for your love and hugs, and first and foremost to Esther, of blessed memory, who in her infinite love even led to our acquaintance and allowed this miracle to happen. Her memory will always be with us.

“The wedding will take place, Hashem willing, in two months, following the holidays of Tishrei.”