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Chaplains & Institutional Staff:
The Aleph Institute:
Helping Institutions Meet the Needs of Jewish Inmates
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Thousands of Jews in state and federal institutions face unique challenges in maintaining their Jewishness. Away from home and community, Jews in prison are often challenged in the ways they can observe the religious practices that are central to their heritage. Aleph has created and implemented a host of highly-acclaimed programs for Jews who are isolated due to incarceration. Aleph has become a well-respected and potent spiritual force in the corrections field, helping thousands of Jewish men and women -- and their families -- on a national level. America's most significant prison officials, legislators and judges recognize The Aleph Institute's educational and humanitarian accomplishments and have accorded it a unique level of confidence and responsibility. |
The programs and services of Aleph are designed to attain maximum impact within the prison environment.
"I appreciate the educational and humanitarian efforts of Aleph in MCC-Miami. Inmates are often forgotten or ignored by society and gain in many ways by constructive interaction with volunteers. Many of our men are in prison for the first time and are fertile ground for feelings of isolation and bitterness. They are vulnerable not only to constructive influences such as Aleph, but to less constructive influences as well. I think the work of Aleph is a real asset in meeting the spiritual needs of inmates that are not being met in any other way."
Warden Stephen Pontessa, MCC Miami
Since 1981, The Aleph Institute has worked with wardens, chaplains and institutional staff at hundreds of state and federal institutions in a variety of ways to help them meet the needs of Jewish inmates:
The Aleph Advisory
Aleph publishes bulletins for wardens, chaplains and institutional staff regarding daily and Holiday Jewish religious practices. Aleph also maintains a telephone hotline for institutional staff to contact an Aleph rabbi with any questions regarding Jewish practices.
Religious Educational Materials
Aleph ships books, magazines, Holiday materials, and religious ritual items to chaplains at hundreds of institutions and provides educational material and furlough opportunities to thousands of Jewish men and women in prisons across the United States.
Rabbinical Visitations
Aleph's staff and affiliated Rabbis visit hundreds of state and federal institutions around the country and work with chaplains and institutional staff to resolve religious issues.
Religious Freedom Assistance
Aleph works with institutional staff to help avoid litigation with respect to the constitutional rights of Jews to obtain kosher food, to receive work schedules that respect the Sabbath and religious holidays, and to otherwise practice their religion freely while in prison.
Aleph's Institutional Handbook of Jewish Practice and Procedure:
Your one-stop, easy-to-use source for vital information about Jewish religious practices and holy days, prepared by America's foremost agency dealing with Jews in institutional environments.
Keep your staff fully informed on all key Jewish religious practices in the institutional setting.
More information and how to order.
Aleph's Director of Prison Programs
Rabbi Menachem M. Katz
Aleph's prison programs are directed by Rabbi Menachem M. Katz , a young third-generation American rabbi descending from a long line of European rabbis and who has long been involved in outreach work.
As Director of Prison Programs for Aleph, Rabbi Katz also organizes and supervises rabbinical visitations to hundreds of state and federal prisons and jails across the United States. He personally conducts visitations and fields hundreds of inquiries from chaplains and inmates around the country with respect to Jewish laws and holiday practices.
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