As the adage goes, when you do the crime you do the time. Former influential Capitol Hill lobbyist and businessman Jack Abramoff – newly of Baltimore – knows that well. In 2006, the once super lobbyist pled guilty to three felony counts related to defrauding Native American tribes and corruption of government officials. His well-funded lifestyle was part of a national scandal that led to new limitations on lobbying and much discussion about political ethics.

This week, after 43 months in prison, he began a stint at Tov Pizza on Reisterstown Road in Baltimore (Check out our story: http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/local_news/abramoff_to_work_at_tov_pizza/19332)

It’s a decidedly less glitzy gig than his past one, but hopefully one imbued with much more personal meaning. A former kosher restaurant owner himself, he will help that business focus on marketing strategies, according to its owner.

So if you stop by Tov Pizza most business hours these days, you are likely to see Jack sitting in the room on the right while working at his computer. Mind you, he won’t talk to you – he can’t under the stipulations of his still incomplete jail sentence, which should be up by year’s end.

Frankly, he should be left alone regardless of that. It must be painful enough to reconstruct one’s life after committing a crime and gaining a pass to jail as a result. To do so when your name is part of a national scandal is even more arduous. Abramoff knows best the hell he put his family and friends through, having TV cameras and reporters follow their every move and dig into the personal lives of all who surround him.

With that in mind, we urge our community – and our colleagues in the media – to go easy on Abramoff. For certain, this is a story of national interest and the initial coverage cannot be avoided. However, after that Abramoff should be allowed to live out his life in relative anonymity and with dignity. The only exception would be if he chose to speak publicly. Indeed, if the authorities believe that he has paid his price, then we should, too.

This exemplifies the Jewish value of teshuvah or repentance. Abramoff, like anyone else, is entitled to the benefits of that hallowed concept. Let’s keep that in mind.