- WelcomeThe Aleph Institute is a non-profit organization offering programs and services to incarcerated Jewish men, women, and their families. Read More
- VolunteerAleph Institute needs volunteers to visit prisons, state hospitals, and group homes, to bring a touch of humanity to those disconnected from society. BRING LIFE TO ANOTHER HUMAN
- In-Prison ProgramsWe offer religious programs and services for Jewish men and women in prison, with the help of trained Rabbis and lay volunteers. Read More
- Alternative Sentencing ProgramThe Aleph Institute works with the courts to provide an effective and meaningful alternative to traditional incarceration. Read More
- Shifra ProgramThe Aleph Institute's Project Shifra provides support for the community by working with jewish families to help secure basic needs and services. Learn More
About
We are a religious organisation that provides relief for incarcerated Jews and their families who tend to be overlooked by traditional American Jewish organisations. The Aleph Institute struggles against challenging odds to reach Jewish inmates who are scattered throughout the national prison system, state hospitals, and group homes. The programs and services of Aleph are designed to attain maximum impact not only within the prison environment, but also during the transition period after incarceration when a sense of religious community can help former convicts rebuild their lives as productive citizens. The success of Aleph's programs attests to the power of its Torah-based approach to serving prisoners, their families, and humanity.
Some programs are designed specifically for the Jewish population; however, our programs are not restricted to the Jewish community and we serve the broader community, as well, both in prison and in re-entry. Our center is open daily, and we see over 300 men and women every week who come for programs that help them improve their lives and stay healthy and productive. We assist with housing, social services, access to healthy food and healthcare, and employment resources.
More about Aleph
Some programs are designed specifically for the Jewish population; however, our programs are not restricted to the Jewish community and we serve the broader community, as well, both in prison and in re-entry. Our center is open daily, and we see over 300 men and women every week who come for programs that help them improve their lives and stay healthy and productive. We assist with housing, social services, access to healthy food and healthcare, and employment resources.
Aleph Institute: A Smarter Approach to Justice
Reducing Incarceration, Strengthening Families, & Increasing Sustainability
Read More
Chaplains Conference and Symposium Coming up
Chaplains Conference and Symposium Coming Up
I would like to...
Latest Photos
Latest Photos
Chabad World News
-
Wed, June 24, 2026
Deadly Maryland Plane Crash Claims Three Jewish Men
-
Mon, June 22, 2026
Two Killed, One Critically Wounded in Shooting Near Montreal Jewish Neighborhood
Shabbat & Holidays
Candle Lighting Times
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Light Candles at
Shabbat Ends
Daily Thought
Some people think that if they were truly spiritual, they would never eat.
In truth, few acts are as divine as eating food.
Eating is similar to sifting gold. You grasp the divine spark within a food and reject the dross. And then, in the mitzvahs energized by that food, you carry that divine spark back to its origin within the oneness of its Creator.
That is why there are foods that are forbidden and foods that are permissible. The Hebrew word for “forbidden” is assur—meaning tied down. “Permissible” is mutar—untied.
Kosher means “fit.” Foods that are assur are not fit for the divine act of eating...





