The Fast of the 9th of Av is Coming. Here are some resources for the day including some classes, some readings, and more.

Our Executive Director Chaplain Matthew Perry was interviewed by JewishBoston, about the challenges of being Jewish in Prison.

An excerpt of the article:

Unfortunately this program has been sunset. Thank you to all of you who have donated.

It is with a heavy heart that we are informing you that Michael Shemesh (z”l) returned his neshamah (soul) to HaShem early on September 27th, 2019.

During the time that we at JPSI knew Michael he was

Sivan is the month in which we celebrate the giving of the Torah. In the community we celebrate this by gathering and studying all night on the first night and then hear the 10 commandments read from a Torah scroll during the daytime service. In prison the experience of Jewish prisoners is quite different. If there is night time study they will be doing it in their cells, on their own, with what books they have available. In some prisons, with a large enough Jewish population and volunteers who can help supervise, they will be able to gather to read from a Chumash for the daytime service. In other prisons with smaller Jewish populations they will be reading the ten commandments by themselves in their cell, again.In a conversation I had in this past month I realized

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.

Note from the President

Nissan is the first of the Jewish months. Oddly it isn't when the New Year is, but it is the month when the Jewish people became a nation as we went forth, freed from Egypt. Passover is particularly poignant, impactful, for Jews who are in prison and those who work with Jewish prisoners. Each year we are commanded to recognize how G-d takes us out from bondage, and at that time we have to think about the nature of bondage.

This year so far we have sent out 20 sets of menorahs and Chanukah cards to Jewish Prisoners, so they too can celebrate Chanukah.

Many of you knew our founder Chaplain Gary Friedman, OBM. On November 5th, 2017, at 1:00PM Pacific time (1300) there was an unveiling of his headstone at Bikur Cholim Cemetery at 1340 N 115th St, Seattle, WA. It was live streamed live to our Facebook page. Many joined us in honoring Chaplain Friedman. Afterwards there was celebration in his memory l'chaims and nosh at the Chabad House Minyan.

We regret to announce that Chaplain Gary Friedman, left this world on February 9, 2016, 30 Shevat 5776 on the Hebrew calendar

In a uniquely American phenomenon of almost biblical proportions, our Nation’s jails and prisons are being overwhelmed by inmates who claim to be adherents of religions with demanding and problematic practices, frivolous lawsuits when accommodations are denied or do not meet expectations, and civil courts that drag out their litigation and make canonical decrees, while an economically depressed public is increasingly incensed over having to pay for the resultant costs, and frustrated corrections administrators are baffled by the folly of it all.

Seattle Weekly interviewed JPSI’s founder, Chaplain Gary Friedman OBM, about the interesting phenomenon of non-Jews claiming to be Jewish. Even neo-Nazis.

The transcripts of the 1886 National Prison Congress are very revealing about the relationship at that time between prison administrators and proponents of religious programs. Chaplains were prominent in the proceedings; prayers were offered before each morning and afternoon session and an entire morning’s program was devoted to “Moral and Religious Instruction in Prison.”