Bs”d
5785 - 2025
Conference Schedule
Sunday, 13th Iyar 5785 - May 11th, 2025
12:00-1:30 Lunch & Welcome
1:30- 2:30 Breakout Sessions
PA DOC REP–Rev. Aaron Reitz, Assistant Director of Religious Services, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Issues facing incarcerated Jewish men and women. Concerns you would like to see addressed for the holidays and throughout the year.
OHIO DOC REP- Dr. Mike Davis, Director of Religious Services, Ohio Department of Corrections: Issues facing incarcerated Jewish men and women. Concerns you would like to see addressed for the holidays and throughout the year.
2:30- 2:45 Break
2:45- 3:30 Rabbi Yossi Friedman, Prison Chaplaincy. Working with high profile inmates, counseling and guidance and encouragement as they go through life’s challenges.
3:45- 4:45 Mike Pasternak, MSW Drugs, Alcohol and addictive behavior. How we deal with it in the prisons and in the community.
4:45 Picture in front of Aleph
5:00 - 6:30 Dinner
7:00 Symposium
Chabad of Pittsburgh, 1700 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Monday, May 20th, 2014
8:30 - 9:15 am Breakfast
9:15 -10:00 am
Mrs. Shawn Borokos, Director of Security for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh Given the rise in antisemitism in the US, how do we prepare those returning to society? What should they expect and how do we prepare them.
10:00 -10:45 AM
Mrs. Stefanie Small, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services, Jewish Family and Children’s Service Pittsburgh
Resources for families in the community. As husbands are incarcerated and what resources are available in the community for those re-entering.
10:45 - 11:15 am Break
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Mr. Jeremy Kazzaz, Esq. Aleph Institute legal advocate
Update on any progress on the kosher front, alternative sentencing program, legal advocacy.
12:00 - 12:45 pm Rabbi Kolakowski – Festive meals in the DOC
After the major lawsuit this past year and based on what we heard from the DOC (Rev. Reitz) yesterday, where do you think we are and what should we try and accomplish?
12:45 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 3:00 pm Rabbi Admon – Kosher food in prison for the staff.
How should a staff member who brings a kosher lunch address those concerns?
How was Passover — how was it experienced by the staff? What is on the table for other religious food for other faiths.
3:00 - 3:45 Rabbi Vogel - Conference planning for 2026; programs at Aleph Institute, areas of concern and news in the Federal, state and local prisons.