On the eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, concerned Jews worldwide are sending messages of solidarity and New Year wishes to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges since March.

Detained Reporter: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, an American citizen and son of Jewish parents who emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1979, has been held in Russia since March on charges of espionage.
* Gershkovich denies the charges; President Biden stated that he is “serious about a prisoner exchange.”
* Gershkovich’s family and supporters have been vocal about his situation, hoping for global support during the upcoming U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York.

Show of Solidarity: Thousands of Jews worldwide have sent Rosh Hashana well-wishes to Gershkovich, united in a campaign organized by the Jewish Federations of North America.
* The organization has combined excerpts from submitted letters into a “collective letter,” already forwarded to Gershkovich’s lawyers, and plans to provide a book of individual letters to his family after the holiday.
* The campaign has received over 2,200 letters from 21 countries as of Thursday night.

Words of Encouragement: Letters, which include messages of strength, love, and unwavering support, originate from various global locations and a broad demographic.
* Prominent contributors include Natan Sharansky, a Soviet dissident and Israeli politician who spent time in the same prison as Gershkovich. He assured Gershkovich of his upcoming liberation thanks to prayers, Jewish solidarity, and friends’ support.

Next Steps: There’s increasing pressure to secure Gershkovich’s release, including efforts from Gershkovich’s family, his employer, and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
* Lawyers representing Dow Jones have requested the U.N. declare Gershkovich “arbitrarily detained,” viewing the situation as a violation of Gershkovich’s fundamental human rights.
* These efforts are vital as Gershkovich’s pretrial detention was extended to the end of November, during which he potentially faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of espionage charges.

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