The Iraqi lawyer who risked his life to save former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch of Palestine, W.Va. came to Pittsburgh yesterday to speak at a fund-raiser for the Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh.

	Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief speaks to guests at a fund-raiser for the Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, including Rabbi Aaron Brodie, left, and the event chairman, Dr. Emanuel Kanal, right. Click photo for larger image.

Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief has given nine speeches since he was granted asylum by the United States last April 29, but he said this talk was the most important he has given because it was before a Jewish group.

"I want to tell the Jewish people that I support them and I like them and I want to tell them the difference between good Muslims and bad Muslims," al-Rehaief said.

Bad Muslims are like Saddam Hussein, he said. "Good Muslims believe all of us are human beings and we should live together in peace."

Al-Rehaief and his wife, Iman, were living in Nasiriyah when the 507th Maintenance Company to which Lynch belonged took a wrong turn and was ambushed. Iman worked at Saddam Hospital, where Lynch was taken.

At the hospital to visit his wife, al-Rehaief sneaked into the cardiac unit where Jessica Lynch was being held, and saw her being slapped around by an officer in the Fedayeen Saddam, a brutal militia group. His revulsion at the sight caused him that night to walk six miles out of the city to the lines of the U.S. Marines.

The Marines asked al-Rehaief to return to the hospital to gather more information about Lynch, and to provide detailed floor plans. He did, but nearly lost his life when he was arrested briefly by the Fedayeen Saddam.

Al-Rehaief was invited to speak at the Hillel event by Rabbi Mordecai Nissel, dean of the school.

"When I heard what he had done, I was waiting for the ticker tape parade down Fifth Avenue," Nissel said. "So I got the crazy idea that I would do it. He represents the ideals of compassion and concern for all humanity that we teach. I thought he would be a good example for our students."

Al-Rehaief works for the Livingston Group, a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. He lives in Virginia with his wife and daughter, but cannot say exactly where, because there have been threats on his life.

"Early on when he came to this country there were some Arab gentlemen who came to his door," said Chris Terrell of the Livingston Group, who accompanied al-Rehaief to Pittsburgh.

Al-Rehaief said his family misses Iraq, but loves the United States. He plans to apply for citizenship.

"The people (in the neighborhood where he lives) have showered us with love. We sometimes miss home. But we have another family here."