Rabbi Vogel Blog

Updated news at Aleph Institute

You will find news and information of the many programs being offered at Aleph Institute.

The Aleph Institute provides many programs for those incarcerated, their families and re-entry programs.

In addition in 2013 the Aleph Institute opened the Shifra Program, which provides resources and support benefiting many families in the Jewish community in Pittsburgh.

As you browse this blog you will become familiar with these programs.

Ban the Box

Friday, June 8, 2012 - 2:24 PM

I was interviewed by Essential Public Radio (NPR affiliate) yesterday with regards to ‘Ban the Box’ (http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2012-06-07/ban-box-11348), the issue is crucial.

At Aleph our programs include helping those who get out of prison finding employment, without employment there can be no rehabilitation, in addition to allowing the individual to being able to pay his or her bills they have to be able to hold their head high, being a productive member in the community requires the individual to work and be able to live life as we know.

The government has to do more with reducing the liability exposure for employers. Expungement of criminal past should be more available and to a broader population, especia… Read More »

Change coming to PA prisons and probation!

Thursday, June 7, 2012 - 11:21 AM

Prison in Pa after decades of growing are now hopefully going to be turning the tide, currently there are over 58,000 men and women in the state’s prisons, however due to the rising costs (over $74,000.00 a year to house those in the geriatric prison). Pennsylvania (both sides of the aisle) is now ready to change the way business has been done, it’s time to emphasize less the punishment and more the rehabilitation.

We at Aleph Institute, with over twenty years of working with this population, maintain that the focus has to be on rehabilitation, and that means working with the individual on case by case basis, holding their hands.

We work with the individual helping them with productive employment, housing, medical help, ensure… Read More »

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Profile

Rabbi Vogel is the Executive Director of the Aleph Institute - North East Region.
At Aleph we strive to help those who have been forgotten by society, the Jewish men and women in prison, their families on the outside and those who are reentering society. Left alone these men and women are guaranteed to fail (US DOJ statistics give them a twenty three percent success rate).
It is our goal to work with these men and women as individuals and give them the tools to succeed, when we do so, we are assured (US Dept. of Justice, lowers recidivism by over forty percent!) we will succeed.

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