Visit the Prisons

My son is in prison. Thank you for posting this article. Too many see both the prisoners and their families as somehow not human. The prison system in the US excels at dehumanizing both prisoners adn faily members like me. Reply

Rabbi Freeman,
Your devotion on being of service to those who are incarcerated stoked my curiosity. Many are aware that Blacks and Latinos make up a significant amount of the prison population sometimes due to unequal judgements. I never thought about Jews being incarcerated before. According to statistics the Jewish prision population is roughly 1.2 % (2011), which is very low compared to other religious groups. There is a non-profit organization the Aleph Institute founded by Rabbi Sholo D. Lipskar (FL), but operate out of PA, who service the needs of the Jewish incarceration population. I read on the Chabad.org cite that a man who was preparing to service the Jewish prision population asked the head of a Yeshiva in Los Angeles what he could tell those that he visited.The response was, "Of all the great personalities in the Torah including Abraham and Moses, only Joseph while in prision is called a successful man." That is amazing! He was in training for something great! Thank you. Reply

If it had not been for the love, mercy, grace, kindness, longsuffering, patience, forgiveness, and restoration of G-d where would we all be. People may be in prison behind bars physically, mentally, spiritually, or in their health. We can serve G-d by being someone's strength when they are facing challenges because of poor choices or the choices others made.
The story of King David and Bathsheba, and the Prophet Nathan is a perfect example. The Bible tells us that the Mashiach will come through the lineage of David [tribe Judah]. This tells us when we repent, G-d still has an excellent purpose and destiny for our lives. Despite our failures, whatever they may be [no one is perfect], G-d still included King David's lineage in the family of a holy G-d, and in fulfilling the salvation of the world.

I was wondering Rabbi Freeman, does Chabad.org have a prision training program. If so; how are prisions served by Chabad.org since the onset of COVID-19?

G-d Is Good! :) Reply

During the short time when I was in jail awaiting sentance, another prisoner sang psalms to me with a most remarkable chazanic voice that gave me much hope and cheer. So i can fully recommend this article. Every prisoner feels at the beginning of his or her confinement that he or she is innocent, but that somehow a mistake was made. Each one feels to be special and not like the other prisoners, but with time this passes and all become the same in the individual's mind. Prison is an experience to be felt and shared because we should all know what it is like. Reply

Thank you for sharing, visiting the prisoners.

Be blessed. Reply

I know first hand how the Rebbe's wisdom concerning the treatment of prisoners comes to fruition when put into practice. There has been several people in prisons I have visited throughout the years and one man in particular, whose behavior and moods were filled with anger and depression, has become a true man of God. It is amazing what transforms inside of a person when they are treated with kindness and respect after years of being treated as worthless, discarded trash. Giving someone a second chance brings about hope and a new look at life which is priceless. If anyone ever has the chance to visit a prisoner, please give a little of your time and the both of you will be blessed. Thank you for sharing this message for today! Reply

The easiest first step in freeing oneself is giving love to another. It is a great secret power we all have and many times forget to use. Reply

I understand that the righteous do not oppress others. To do so would go directly against the definition of the word "righteous".
Go through TNK and see if you can find any example of the righteous acting as an oppressor. Reply

thank you, beautiful and inspiring words Reply

Thank you for sharing this. Yes, we must bring joy to those that are oppressed. Reply

Isn't there some section of Talmud that states something like: when two people go before a judge count them both as guilty and when the leave count them both innocent. Reply

Your Rebbe should slap you. G-d stoped the angles from singing when the Egyptians were drowning. Where is the humanity in these comments? Y'all sound like a bunch of victims and not Jews. Who hasn't known oppression or hate? Way to become what you profess to hate. I can't tell if you're Jews or goyim with these comments. We're supposed to choose love, especially when it hurts. Spend more time practicing Torah and get over your bad selves. Reply

Prison work Yesterday (3-9-17) I read an article in the featured content on Chabad.org about Rabbi Kasriel Kastel's prison work; he is also the Director of Lubavitch Youth Org.

Besides being timely for Purim and this DD, the article is also a shining example of applying the teachings of the Rebbe of righteous memory into one's life! Reply

Reread the wisdom stated here along with all of the posted wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He cares deeply about all life and is unafraid to step into areas that some may consider darkness. You can love like he loves. Free yourself and these people from their darkness. Experience the wonderful life that surrounds you, both the joy and less apparent hidden treasures ! Reply

Anomosities If that is true? Than why all the animosities of what is happening throughout this entire world with so much hate + civil wars elsewhere. G-d always with the oppressed? Than why are we being persecuted when we are there with him through our daily prayers? I have never see So much corruption in our society today, To hear greed not peace. is G-d oppressing the corrupted?. I see no peace.

Thank you Reply

I believe this is an excellent daily exercise !

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who is fairest of them all ! Reply

To visit prisoners is something you learn through life... Shabbat Shalom,
I am a woman who survived a husband who should be in prison. He isn't. It was a hard lesson to accept his being free. Even more my eldest son became a criminal defense lawyer … How does a victim as I was cope with all this? Little by little. Every day at a time and you walk through every human emotion, of course : hurt, shame, anger, disbelief, revenge, justice, bitterness… finally,after some years, you discover that being soft is a strength, that having tears cleans your soul, that friendliness keeps your heart alive and that giving undeserved loving kindness gives you peace !!! So, being with the oppressed - even if they oppressed others - is good for you. I feel very proud and blessed with a son defending people who committed crimes. My son thaught me a great lesson in life. With thanks to G-D... Reply

Our Oppressor We are alll oppressed by our evil inclination - egoistic reception and harm and repulsion of others.
This was given to us by nature.

Our correction prison is here in the physical world.

We have been given the key to freedom - All the texts ( Zohar, Torah, Tree of Life,etc.) hidden internal secret meaning instruct us how to correct our inner qualities and forces to become like G_d. G_d awaits your request to enable HIis Light to reform your nature. Reply

Definition Oppression = unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power; a sense of being weighed down in body or mind; Oppress = to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority.
I fail to see the connection of the use of 'oppression' or 'oppress' to the ilk of prisoners - on the contrary, apparently a criminal has oppressed his/her victim.
Certainly humanity should be concerned with kindness and assurance of the proper treatment of all G-d's creatures and certainly G-d is with the oppressed, but let us not stretch this term 'oppressed' to those that have done oppression to others. Reply

being judgmental Again I run across a thought such as this one. I have an extremely hard time feeling kind to anyone who is hurtful, especially a criminal. How will I ever be able to change this. All I know is this keeps coming up in my life and all I can do is ask for prayers and ask G-d to change my mind until it gets changed. In fact No One asked that I forgive or even like them. I still would find it hard to bring joy with me if I felt judgmental. I hope someone can help me with this. I hope I never get called for jury duty! Reply