Newsletter Chodesh Iyar 5778
In this Newsletter
Note from the President
A Word from the Rabbi
News
Holiday Notes
Closing Words
Note from the President
Iyar is a month of reflection. Every day of the month we count the Omer. In reflecting on the work of JPSI sometimes it is hard to see the impact we make as we try to make a difference. It is the letters that the inmates write and the successes that we do achieve in helping another Jew that keep us going. Your contributions to JPSI make a difference. This month I would like to share an excerpt from a letter from an inmate - so you too can know a bit of the impact that you make.
"...So then the Great Almighty Hashem answered my pleas and when my name was called for mail call and I seen that it was from JPSI. I and my heart jumped with joy. When I got to my bunk to read it, I paused and silently thanked Hashem for his blessing as I cried because I had thought I was forgotten. I do sincerely thank you!"
Thank you for helping us reach the Jews who rely on us to help them with continued learning, holiday observances and support for their families.
Golda-Rochel Rosencrantz
JPSI President
A word from the Rabbi
In this past week’s Torah reading, Shmini, we learned about what we can and cannot eat. Many of us take this for granted. We don’t have to think about it; Just look at the label for the hechsher (kosher symbol). If we need to prepare it, again, for many of us we don’t really have much to think about.
For our brethren who are incarcerated, this is not the case. I’ve mentioned before how I am learning of more facilities not providing any level of kosher food. This has not changed and in fact, even got worse as I learned of institutions that did not provide kosher for Passover food for their Jewish population.
One of our students (someone who went through the system, served his time and was released) relates that when he was in prison, the Jewish chaplain told him that all of the beverages were kosher. He had reason not to believe the chaplain so he investigated this claim with the help of the kitchen manager who produced outdated certificates. Once he received the updated kosher certificates (which were the same as the outdated, only the dates were changed), he read: “all of the juices produced by company x are certified kosher except the grape”. This went to the warden, who dismissed the entire interaction with the words, “so he made a mistake”. The former inmate answered him, “yes, I made a mistake too – that is why I’m here. It doesn’t mean that I threw out my entire religious believe system that I should be lied to about what is kosher”.
Our team of volunteers are working on developing a plan to reach out to jails and prisons to offer them guidance in how to comply with kosher without compromising their security.
There are several ways that you, our supporters (both in time and in finances) can be of assistance in this work. Please contact us either by phone or email to join in these efforts.
Make it a month that counts,
Rabbi Aryeh Blaut
Jewish Prisoner Services International
Direct Phone: 206 929-1912
Direct email: rabbi@jpsi.org
News
Nissan was a busy month. JPSI held two community Sedarim in conjunction with the Chabad House Minyan. Both nights were well attended and we heard that many people felt that they had learned something new at the Seder.
JPSI also provided Seder in the Box to a number of Washington Department of Correction (DOC) Facilities, with the help of the DOC Chaplains and Ms. Belinda Stewart, Correction Program Administrator.
Seder in a Box was also provided to inmates at the Northwest Detention Center, and to several people in the community who were unable to attend a seder.
We have also had some interest in knowing more about the Seder in the Box program from Correctional Facilities in a couple of other States, and we will be following up on those discussions to enable more inmates to observe the Passover Seder.
Holiday Notes
Counting the Omer
From the second night of Passover until Shavuot we count the days, seven weeks in all. When the Temple stood there was a barley offering of an omer of barley each night. Today we have a small grouping of prayers that are added to the evening prayers where we count each night.
In addition to counting, the omer period is also a time of mourning as we remember the tragic death of the 24,000 disciples of Rabbi Akiva who died in a plague in the weeks between Passover and Shavuot,
Pesach Sheini - Second Passover (April 29th)
A year after leaving Egypt the first observance of Passover as a holiday occurred. However, there were some who could not participate because they had spiritual impurity from contact with the dead - such as those carrying Joseph's coffin. These Jews protested that they were missing out on Passover, and because of their plea, a Second Passover was established, on the 14th of Iyar.
Today we remember Pesach Sheini by eating matzah on that day and skipping the tachanun prayers.
It is a simple service but it reminds us that there are second chances. A person can do Teshuvah - they can repent and become a better person. In the words of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, “The Second Passover means that it’s never a ‘lost case.’”
Lag BaOmer (May 2-3)
Lag BaOmer is a special day where the custom of mourning during the Omer is suspended. It remembers the passing of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the author of the Zohar. It is a celebratory day and it is customary to have a bonfire on Lag B'Omer and to let children play with (imitation) bows and arrows, and for people to eat carob beans.
You can learn more here and here.
Closing words
As I think on Pesach Sheini and the nature of second chances. It is easy to say that "there are second chances" and that a person can do teshuvah, they can return. But second chances and returning is not simple and rarely happens alone. Yes, each individual is responsible for their own teshuvah, but the journey they take to take there is one that needs support. JPSI strives to be there to help Jews to observe Judaism, not just for the sake of Judaism, but for each of the individuals journey towards rectification of their past, to the best of their abilities.
By supporting JPSI you help us make a difference in their lives.
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