Posted to Shlichus on

Special: Judaism Behind Bars

Shturem.net

Miami, FL — After a thorough screening and security check by armed guards dozens of bochurim from the Semicha Institute in Miami entered the Dade Correctional institution in Florida to participate in a 3-day seminar which included shiurim in Gemoro, Chassidus, Halacha and Hashkofo.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

Jewish visitors in prisons in the U.S. has become a common phenomenon thanks to Rabbi Shlom Ber Lipskar, shaliach in Bal Harbour, Florida who in 1989 founded Aleph, an institute that provides the spiritual needs for Jewish prisoners. In these 18 years hundreds of shluchim have visited thousands of inmates incarcerated in prisons all over the world.

The directors of the Aleph Institute today are Mendi Bruk, Ahron Lipskar and Mendi Katz.

Several years ago Aleph made an experiment and delivered a shiur to the inmates in a correctional institute in Alabama. As a result of its tremendous success it introduced this program to the correctional institutes in Florida and so far there have been three such meetings with the inmates. The last one took place at the end of Adar this year.

Two weeks ago the students from the Semicha Institute left Miami at 5:30 AM to the Dade Correctional Institute which is an hour and a half drive. Following two hours of bureaucratic red tape they were finally allowed in to meet with 13 Jewish inmates who had been expecting them.

First they learned Tanya followed by Shacharis services. Then they ate breakfast and afterwards learned Gemara and various other topics delivered by Yosi Stern. After learning a bit of Pirkei Avos and about the holidays they ate lunch and davened Mincha.

The next day they met with the inmates again but this time they were in for a surprise. Rabbi Yohonon Klein, son of Rabbi Moshe Klein, delivered a very exciting shiur on writing Tefilin, Mezuzos and Sifrei Torah. The day ended with a shiur by Rabbi Eli Smith who heads the Semicha Institute. He spoke about Judaism and told chassidic stories that moved the inmates very much.

The third and final day of the program was Wednesday. At 4:30 there was a farewell party. Emotions ran high and it could be felt in the air. During the party several inmates spoke about their experiences during these three special days with the students and of the transformation they feel has transpired within them. The correctional officers also said that they had noticed a change in their behavior since the program began. Then one of the bochurim started singing a lively nigun and everyone spontaneously started to dance. For a while the inmates forgot that they were in prison.

At around 6 PM Rabbi Sholom Lipskar himself arrived and spoke before the inmates. Rabbi Lipskar presented the inmates with special certificates of the “Prison Yeshiva.”

The bochurim who took part in this special experience were Boruch Weingarten, Yosi Gansburg, Yankel Katz, Yankel Adler, Elchonon Kornblit, Yehoshua Tibor, Zalmi Hilel, Uri Cohen, Yehiel Zilber and the organizer of the program Yosi Stern.

Related Articles

18 Comments

  • co

    may it do its job and bring them closer to Torah and Mitzvos, we need all Jews to be an active part of Am Yisroel!!

  • been there done that

    i was there i know what it is like to have a religious person come and give you jewish feeling the rebbe cares about every single jew no matter where he is and what he did

    hope to see him personally and thank him

  • Proud

    Im so happy to see this it makes the world a better place.
    Thanx for keeping it alive!!!!

  • Aleph FAN

    I have done visitations for Aleph for years, they are the most unbeleivable organization!

    the REBBE has so much Nachas from these pictures, bringing LIGHT into the DARKEST of Places.

    A big yasher KOACH to MOSHE BAROUK for all his hard work, you make the Rebbe proud!

  • Yehudis Engel

    WOW! what amazing koichos the Rebbe instills in us. We can truly say ASHREINU MA TOIV CHELKEINU each day that we are chasidim of the Rebbe.

  • a proud Lubavitcher

    The pictures were amazing and truly allowed us to feel the 3 day event. It brings so much joy to see how you made the Jewish in-mates so happy. Imagine how happy you made the Abishter and the Rebbe M”HM. Maybe, just maybe, the angels in heaven were dancing while you all were in the prison.
    Yasher Koach Aleph
    Yasher Koach to the Bochrim
    Yasher Koach to all of Am Yisroel

  • chaya esther in postville

    Yochanan, wow. good job. may hashem give you the strength to continue. May you continuegiving nachas to all those around you!

  • fed up

    nebech that this is considered a wonderful thing – oy how yiddishkeit has fallen …

  • a close cousin

    hey another klien in jail?

    i think your father should have a word with you all