It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to figure out that more seems to divide than unite American Jews who care about all things relating to the State of Israel. However, the fate of Gilad Shalit is finally – definitely later than should be the case – catching on here as a unifying issue.

Shalit was captured on June 25, 2006 by Hamas operatives who dug a tunnel from the Gaza side of the border into Israel. In addition to killing several Israel Defense Forces soldiers, they captured Shalit. The International Red Cross, Israeli government officials and even Shalit’s family have not been allowed to see or to speak to him. Occasionally, a letter from him is released to the media.

In exchange for Shalit, Hamas says it wants 1,000 prisoners held by Israel, including those “with blood on their hands.” For crying out loud, even the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict has called for him to be released unconditionally.

• Orthodox and other groups have tried to keep him on the agenda for some time and deserve much credit for pushing the effort. Here is a packet prepared last year by the Orthodox Union: http://www.ouradio.org/images/uploads/Shabbat_Needarei_Tzahal_5770.pdf

• This week the, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism began conducting campaigns on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites to raise awareness. They are calling for the display of yellow balloons in front of synagogues, organizations and residences for the week of June 21 to show solidarity. Likewise, many Conservative (and other) synagogues already mention Mr. Shalit in context with their weekly prayer for the well-being of the State of Israel. Here is a link to that prayer in English and Hebrew: http://jcrc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=copy_of_Prayer_for_Gilad_Shalit

• Baltimore is preparing for the June 25 showing of the documentary “Gilad Is Still Alive,” an event sponsored by the Baltimore Zionist District and hosted by the Park Heights Jewish Community Center. (For details: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baltimore-Zionist-District/261170861290)

• And Ami Ayalon, former head of the Israeli Shin Bet Kaf security services (ShaBaK), this week told a Baltimore crowd how he would have conducted Israel’s flotilla raid differently. He wanted to take a daytime armada of 50 Israeli ships with huge “Gilad Shalit” banners and sail right up to the Free Gaza ones, forcing their TV cameras to see the signs. Then the Israelis would say “We’ll sail together into Gaza harbor and you’ll let us meet Gilad Shalit.” (Even though that was highly unlikely to work, he said, at least the real focus would be where it should be – on Hamas’s illegal activities.)

Gilad Shalit is a captive of war, and as such it is the obligation of the Jewish people to strive to bring him home. There is a fair debate to be had over whether “paying ransom” will encourage the taking of more captives. In fact, it’s not a new conversation in Jewish history. (For an interesting article on how the State of Israel has dealt with this and how that squares with Jewish values, click here: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/captives.html).

All that aside, it starts with bringing attention to the plight of a young man who is paying a horrible price for standing guard on his side of the border.

As much as I want to see Gilad Schalit freed, in my heart of hearts I can’t see justifying releasing 1,000 prisoners.  Not for him - not for anyone.  I say that with a heavy heart, knowing my own child is going into Tzahal in less than a year.  If we don’t stop this madness of releasing a thousand for one, the madness will never end.  There will be yet another, and another . . . I grieve along with Schalit’s parents, along with Am Yisrael, along with those who have a shred of decency left.  However - the madness has to end.