THE ALEPH INSTITUTE - North East Region
Winter Report 2004/5764
Program Highlights and Activities for the period of July – December, 2003
PROGRAM AREA: PROGRAMS FOR JEWISH INMATES IN PRISON
Prison Visitations
Religious counseling teaches Jewish inmates about their religion, allowing religion to guide
them and help them rebuild their lives. According to Federal government statistics, religion
in prison is the most successful tool in reducing recidivism.
Program Highlights:
Allegheny County Jail Rabbi, Yossi Silverman, and Dr. Avrohom Huebner, have made over
three hundred and thirty (330) visits to individuals at the Allegheny County Jail during the past
six months. (Dr. Huebner and Taibke Hyman have now joined our group of volunteers. We
welcome them and thank them for there dedication.) These visits generally lasted from a
minimum of fifteen minutes to well over an hour each. The visits involved religious counseling,
hope and guidance and when applicable, discharge plans for the inmates to be able to rebuild
their lives. With over two thousand five hundred (2500) inmates incarcerated at the county jail,
the vast majority for minor offenses, support and help with rebuilding lives is essential. Aleph
regularly delivered prayer books, Torah’s and other religious books to the jail. Chanukah,
Purim and Passover celebrations, which many Jewish inmates attended, were conducted in
the Jail Chapel. Jewish inmates who are incarcerated in the Allegheny County Jail are now
permitted to have their teffilin and receive grape juice and matzo for services every Shabbos
as well as for Jewish Holidays.
Jewish inmates at the State Prison at Cresson, PA now receive regular visits from Alan
Tombosky, who offers religious counseling and guidance. The four Jewish inmates at this high
security prison received Torah classes, individual counseling and were provided with religious
materials for study. The prison staff has developed an active program with Alan and Aleph. At
a recent meeting with the head chaplain, gratitude and thanks were recorded for the excellent
services and dedication being provided by Alan.
Mordechai Rosenthal continues to be a great asset to the Aleph Institute. He regularly visits
the Federal prison in Elkton, Ohio, an hour and a half drive from Pittsburgh, providing Jewish
inmates with Rabbinical counseling and guidance. He inspects and watches to ensure that
‘kashrus’ at the facility common fare room is maintained for the many Israeli and Jewish
inmates who eat kosher food. Mordechai was tremendously helpful, and worked together with
the Rabbinical court of Jerusalem, in obtaining a divorce for a Jewish inmate whose wife
remained alone in Israel. A special thank you was recorded by the high court of Jerusalem,
thanking Aleph and Rabbi Rosenthal for his work and dedication to the inmates at FCI Elkton.
The Federal Prison at Morgantown West Virginia, a one and a half hour drive from Pittsburgh,
continues to be served by Abby Mendelson, who visits weekly to encourage, teach and guide
the many Jewish inmates at that facility. He continues to receive a better then average
attendance and remains a great asset to Aleph.
Rabbi S. Charitonow of Buffalo NY, continues to visit the Federal prison at McKean County in
Bradford, PA. With a large Jewish community at that prison, those visit are so necessary. At a
meeting with the warden, the warden complimented the good work of Rabbi Charitonow.
The State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale PA, in central Pennsylvania, is provided for by
Rabbi Nosson Maretzky. He visits the prison bi – monthly and brings warmth and Judaism to a
Jewish community in the middle of nowhere. Rabbi Meretzky hears only words of praise from
the administration at Houtzdale regarding his many hours of dedication to the Jewish inmates
at the institution.
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The Federal Prison in Loretto, PA, located one and a half hours from Pittsburgh, has two
Jewish communities. This prison has been visited by Aleph for the last thirteen years. Alan
Tombosky has in addition to his other duties, begun visiting the federal prison in Loretto. This
institution has both a medium-security and a minimum-security facility. Unfortunately since it’s
opening, there have been Jewish inmates in both institutions. The chaplain recently called
Aleph to thank us for providing such excellent service to the institution. We offer many thanks
to Alan for his dedication and concern for those incarcerated there.
Belmont correctional institution, located just over an hour from Pittsburgh, was without a Rabbi
for seven years. With great pleasure we can report to you now, that Kivi Bernhard, began
visiting the institution on a regular basis in September. The Head Chaplain of the institution
exclaimed that Kivi’s visits have been a breath of fresh air for the Jewish inmates incarcerated
there and the staff who work there. Kivi, despite not living in the area, continues to visit the
state prison in Belmont on his regular visits to the Pittsburgh area.
Westmoreland County Jail has seen an increase in the number of Jewish inmates incarcerated
there within last couple of months. Programs have been set in place with the administration
and the Aleph Institute to provide for those inmates when they are detained there.
Clarion County, an hour drive north from Pittsburgh, was unfortunately the host to a drug bust,
which included a group of Jewish kids from NY who are being held on federal charges. The
Aleph Institute worked with the administration to provide for the needs of these inmates and
their families who came from far to visit.
The state prison in Chester PA, is now being served by one of the Aleph Rabbis, Rabbi E. D.
Strasbourg, who just moved to the area. He will now begin providing religious services to the
Jewish inmates permanently residing at that facility. We welcome Rabbi Strasbourg to our
team of Rabbis.
The state hospital in Warren PA, recently contacted Aleph to ask for help in filling a void, as the
hospital has had no Rabbi for over eight months! Aleph will immediately provide volunteer
services for that institution as a temporary solution until the issue regarding a permanent Rabbi
can be resolved. Hopefully, the many agencies involved can work together to solve this
problem quickly.
Currently, Aleph is seeking an individual to visit one prison on a regular basis. This
institution is located an hour and a half drive from Pittsburgh and has six Jewish
inmates. If you know of someone who would be willing to volunteer please contact Rabbi
Vogel at ([email protected]).
Torah Studies Program – Correspondence Course
Four Torah study programs are currently available to inmates with the help of staff
chaplains or the education department at the respective prison. This program is conducted
via the mail and currently has over one hundred and eighty participants.
Program Highlights:
Dr. Michael Schulman and his wife Nancy, continue to head this program as it expands. They
oversee the many levels and subjects and ensure the successful operation of the program.
Chaya Feigelstock dedicates tens of hours a week, ensuring the success of these and other
programs. We owe a debt of gratitude to them all.
Chaya Litvin who assumed the “Chumash Level two” program from the capable hands of
Nechama Estrin, spends countless hours with the growth of the Chumash level two program by
preparing the questions and marking the papers. Chaya has been working with the Aleph
Institute now for two years. We greatly appreciate her many hours of work and dedication.
Torah Studies Level one, a brief synopsis of the portion of the week, is coordinated and graded
by Sarah Schulman, who insures that those participating have what they need for their studies.
Jewish History is coordinated by Chana Adler, who ensures that those participating have their
readings and the program functions smoothly. She grades the answers and prepares the work
for those participating in advancing in their studies.
The intense Kaballah program, which has been in the works for over a year, was inaugurated
in October of this year, and is now active with fifteen inmates taking the course. Chaya Litvin
is organizing the course.
After many years in the design and many requests, Aleph will begin offering a “Learn Hebrew
Course”. This course, scheduled to be available by May 2004, will be offered at minimal or no
cost to the Jewish inmates, thus opening many new areas for them.
Chesed – Mentoring Program
Based on programs being offered by religious organizations throughout the US, this program
matches inmates with individual mentors who work with them to change attitudes and to
prepare them for reentering society. The mentors continue to work with them after their
release from prison and support and assist them with their transition into society.
Program Highlights:
This program continues to grow steadily, offering solid mentors as sponsors for the inmates.
Dedicated individuals from across the city have and are continuing to volunteer for this
program. This program is organized and overseen by Ms. Matya Melamud, who spends
countless hours coordinating encounters.
Books and Religious Articles
This program offers inmates and prisons religious books and ritual items i.e.: Tallis, Teffilin
etc., at no cost to the institution or the inmate where no funds exist.
Program Highlights:
Chaya Feigelstock has taken-on this program from inception and developed it. Today this
program is organized by Ms. Chaveh Gourarie and Ms. Chayah Deren, who daily are in the
office to send out the books, inventory the new books coming in from the various synagogues,
and post for the chaplains and prisons the available books.
Kollel Learning Center, Poale Tzedek Congregation and a number of out-of- town
synagogues, have donated hundreds of Siddurim, Chumashim, Machzorim, other books and
many pairs of Teffilin. We are fortunate to have Rabbi Hirshel Pfeffer who checks the teffilin
for us. We thank them all for the large donations to this program.
We are always looking for used but useful Sidduirm, Chumashim, Tallisim, Teffilin and
other Jewish books we can distribute. If you have or know of someone who has, please
call the office or write Chaya at [email protected].
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Grape Juice and Matzo Program
Provides grape juice and matzo for Jewish inmates to be able to celebrate Shabbos and
Jewish holidays in Prison
Program Highlights:
Chaya Mushka Friedman oversees and insures that the participating prisons receive grape
juice and matzo delivered in a timely and organized fashion. With many Federal, state and
local jails participating in this program, it continues to offer a sense of warmth for the inmates,
especially at a time when the Rabbi cannot be there due to Shabbos or holiday observance.
PROGRAM AREA: AFTERCARE
Individual Career Services
Counseling volunteers assist newly released inmates seeking to re-enter the job market.
Career counselors offer career assessment and counseling, job search assistance and
help with writing and distributing resumes. A job bank with participating local
businesses offers individuals jobs to re-enter society.
Program Highlights:
Yaacov Davidson works with individuals to reintegrate them back into society starting with
the preparation of their resume presentation, through their job placement.
With help from the Appliance Warehouse (Fred Landay), Crown Antiques (Boruch Hyman)
and many other local business, inmates can become employed upon release from Prison.
Our ‘career development department’ is always seeking business willing to hire
individuals who are re-entering society. If you or someone you know is in a position to
hire individuals, please contact Yanky in the office or at [email protected].
Community Integration
Many inmates leave prison broken and in despair. Their previous family has fallen apart
and they are left with emotional issues to deal with.
Program Highlights:
Isabel Bloom, MSW, of the Jewish Children and Family Services, continues to work with
our ex-inmates, offering them emotional support and providing assistance in obtaining
government support. She works with them upon their release and continues with them as
they settle down. She spends tens of hours a month working and offering the needed
resources and emotional support available. With a broad knowledge of the many federal
state and local programs available, she is a valuable resource for us at Aleph. We thank
her for that support.
The Jewish Community Center continues to work with us, providing services at little or no
cost to ex-inmates who are rebuilding their lives.
The Jewish Family Assistance Fund has worked with us, helping newly released inmates
with funding to be able to buy the barest of necessities upon re-entry to society. They also
continue to fund the Aleph House.
The Hebrew Free Loan Association has provided loans for those exiting the prisons, thus
helping them get re-established in society. The Association has once again agreed to
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sponsor the Chanukah Gelt Program for the children of Jewish inmates who are
themselves not able to take care of such an important task.
Hotline
Former inmates in a bind, families with children in trouble, spouses on the edge, all are
in a quandary. There is a hotline 24/6.
Program Highlights:
With the help of a grant from the Ladies Hospital Aid Society, Aleph Institute provides a
Hotline for families and individuals in trouble. In the past six months, over one hundred
and fifty emergency calls have been received after office hours! A Rabbi with basic
knowledge of the criminal system monitors this phone line, offering hope and help to the
person placing the call.
Aleph House
Aleph House, through a grant from the Jewish Family Assistance Fund, provides
emergency housing for individuals in the community who are homeless, and transitional
housing for those leaving prison.
Program Highlights:
Over ninety percent of those leaving prison are homeless. The “Aleph House”, a shortterm
resource providing housing for up to ninety days, allows the individual to get back on
his feet. In the last six months there have been eight participants, with the house being in
use over seventy percent of the time.
Currently we are still renting various apartments across the city, with special thanks to the
various resources who rent to us at nominal cost. This service enables the inmate to begin
life anew. With plans in the near future to purchase our own property, we hope to
minimize the headaches of working with landlords who fear working with ex-inmates (a
concern which is getting more and more difficult to overcome).
The Aleph House Institute continues its search to purchase its own facility, where it
would provide temporary housing for ex-inmates, resource rooms and educational
facilities, thus providing for rehabilitation upon the inmates release. In Europe of old
(prior to the war), every town had a “Hekdesh” which provided such services. If you or
anyone you know would like to provide for such a facility in Pittsburgh in honor or in
memory of a loved one, please contact Rabbi Vogel at [email protected].
Shabbos and Holiday Program
Provides for those entering society to be “adopted” by a family for Shabbos and holiday
celebrations in a warm and friendly environment. Also ensures that services and support
will be available to inmates and their families for Shabbos and holidays.
Program Highlights:
Because the majority of inmates are isolated and without family or loved ones to spend
time with, this program offers family support. Currently, this program hosts five individuals.
Since its inception over a year ago, it has helped twenty-two individuals.
Over the summer two sets of inmates visited the many federal prisons in the area.
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Purim services, including the reading of the Megillah, were conducted at all of the
institutions in the area.
PROGRAM AREA: FAMILY SUPPORT
Government statistics report that every inmate incarcerated affects nine additional
people. This group of society is very hard hit, especially the children. What do they tell
their friends? Much is their pain and suffering.
Program Highlights:
Rabbi Eli Seidman, through a generous donation from the Hebrew Free Loan Society,
once again distributed ‘Chanukah Gelt’ to the children of inmates.
Holiday clothes and arrangements for holiday meals were made for the families of inmates.
Support groups, usually with individual families, are conducted by Aleph Rabbis.
PROGRAM AREA: IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS
Aleph provides assistance for Jewish inmates of foreign descent who, due to their
“stateless” classification, have become “lifers” in the prison system. Prior to 9/11 the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) released lifers who were incarcerated for
minor non-violent charges to Aleph custody. Today Aleph works with the INS to seek a
solution to this growing problem.
Program Highlights:
In the last six months, many Israeli citizens were re-united with their families in Israel as
Aleph worked with authorities to rush their deportations.
Aleph provides religious, emotional and family support to others who are stateless and
whose case is awaiting determination.
Aleph worked with the Federal Immigration and Naturalization Services to help expedite
the relocation of an ex-inmate to Israel, thus enabling him to be reunited with his wife and
five children for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
PROGRAM AREA: GUARDIANSHIP
With the aging of the prison population there will be an increase of aging Jewish inmates
who pose no threat to society and who will be released to the Jewish community. Some of
these individuals may be able to function independently, while others may need nursing or
other similar care.
Program Highlights:
With the current rented “Aleph Houses”, provisions are being made to accommodate those
individuals who are able to lead a somewhat independent life. This house will
accommodate them on a temporary basis until permanent housing is available.
The vice-president of the Jewish Association on Aging, Mr. Marshall Hirshburg, has agreed
to work with Aleph on a case-by-case basis to consider individuals requiring fulltime
nursing into one of their facilities. Unfortunately, one individual who was in line to be
released to the JAA and the Aleph Institute, passed away in prison.
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OTHER NEWS: ADVOCACY
The Honorable Dan Frankel, Mr. Bob O’Connor of the Governor’s office, Senator Robert
Jubileer and other members of the Judiciary Board, are currently working with the Aleph
Institute to encourage the Department of Corrections to provide religious rights to Jewish
inmates as it does to members of other faiths.
Rabbi Vogel lectured to students at the request of Professors Mystick and Neufeld of
Duquesne University, who will be working with Aleph regarding legal issues concerning the
religious freedoms of Jewish inmates. The ACLU has agreed to work with the students and
help were they can with these issues.
Susan VanBaalen, Director of Chaplaincy for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, invited Rabbi
Vogel to Washington, D.C., in September and met with him again in November in New
York, to further explore areas where Aleph can provide services with the new faith-based
programs being offered in the Federal prison system.
Because of the increasing number of Jewish inmates, the need for more visits, volunteers
and staff has also grown. Mrs. Taibke Hyman will be a steady support in the office to
coordinate the many programs being offered.
The office of the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Emar, contacted Rabbi Vogel recently to
discuss the issues facing Jewish inmates generally, and in particular, the Israeli inmates
whose numbers have been steadily increasing recently. The Rabbis discussed ways to
work together to provide services for the inmates during their incarceration and upon their
release. Rabbi Emar officially invited Rabbi Vogel to Israel to discuss the many issues.