Holidays in prison are a far cry from the typical celebrations that take place at home.  Inmates are at the scheduling mercy of institution officials and must wade through a quagmire of prison bureaucracy for the authorization to observe even the most basic holiday rituals.

Aleph works with government and prison officials to explain and emphasize the religious requirements of Jews, and provides assistance to prison wardens and chaplains to facilitate Jewish holiday services and programs.

To help inmates properly and joyfully celebrate the holidays, Aleph sends ritual items and holiday packages to institutions for distribution amongst the Jewish prison population.

Holiday shipments include:

• Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot: Prayer books for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Shofars (ram’s horns), honey packets, educational holiday videos, lulav and esrog sets, canvas sukkahs, yarmulkes, Jewish art calendars, and holiday greeting cards

• Chanukah: Menorahs, candles, and dreidels

• Purim: Hamentashen and megillahs

• Passover: Matzah, shmura (handmade) matzah, grape juice, horseradish, gefilte fish, matzoh ball soup, cans of macaroons, haggadahs, shelf stable meals, “Seder-in-a-Box” - Seder plates with all ritual items except for romaine lettuce and hard boiled egg, and kosher for Passover snacks for institution use and resale in the canteen/commissary

• Shavuot: Shelf stable cheesecakes

• Shabbat: “Shabbat Services Companion” an Aleph Institute publication, candlesticks and candles, matzah, grape juice, Siddurim (prayer books), Kiddush cups, Havdalah candles and spiceboxes