Selected Responsa 129

wealthy admirer, Alexander Wimpfen, ransomed his body, for proper burial(Heinrich Graetz , Geschichte der Juden Vol. VII, pp. 173£.; 423 1).

All this material suggests that kidnaping for ransom was common and that Jews , as an oppressed minority, were often the target. As many were merchants and traveled, they faced greater danger than the general population. Kidnaping could frequently be undertaken without enraging the local ruler who often stood by and expressed no concern. The literature only rarely indicates any interest on the part of the government in the plight of such Jews . At times it participated in the kidnaping as with Meir of Rothenburg . The Jewish communities were left to their own devices. Rescue in a timely fashion was an absolute obligation placed upon the family and the Jewish community.

The importance of a timely rescue remains for us in our age. Fortunately the incidence of such kidnaping has become rare as the modern world is more secure. When it does occur it is a tragedy especially for the family.

The situation of our question is different as the government is friendly and seeks to protect all its citizens. In this case it has discouraged the family from acting alone. We should note that the kidnapers seem to be part of a revolutionary group which the United States government opposes which adds a political dimension. This, however, is different from an act of kidnaping by Fatah or some other group involved in the Israeli vs. Palestinian struggle. There the emphasis is on ideology and the ransom has usually be expressed in political terms(release of prisoners, etc.) and not as a matter of money.

The family in our case is concerned with the safety of their young man; it has moved slowly out of respect for the position of the government which it understands. The young man has not been Visited by any government representative or by any neutral party such as the Red Cross . The photographs of him in captivity show him as alive though clearly suffering. The family was told that our government and that of the country involved would pursue this diligently and that the family as well as the corporation should not Interfere as this would endanger any discussions with the captors.