CONGREGATION SHAAREI TESHUVAH
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Mission Statement
Congregation Shaarei Teshuvah, also known as JPSI provides chaplaincy, advocacy and social services to current and former Jewish inmates and their families worldwide. We bring light in the darkness, addressing challenges of observing Judaism behind bars, the challenge of having a family member incarcerated, and the challenges of returning to society.
About This Cause
Congergation Shaarei Teshuvah was founded to address the needs of Jewish prisoners and their families through chaplaincy, advocacy, and social services. Chaplaincy for us means meeting the religious needs of the inmate, the returnee and their family. What does that mean? For the inmate we work with institutions to help provide for their religious needs, sometimes supplementing by providing, for example, a Seder in a box, Megillah readings, kippot, tefillin. Our volunteers provide classes and receive and respond to letters. And our Rabbi answers questions, both for the inmate and the institutional representatives. In the community we work with re-entry to place individuals where they can participate in a Jewish community and work to find synagogues willing to give returnees a fair chance and welcome them to the community. Where we have enough volunteers, we assist with holiday meals and other holiday needs where it is necessary. And our Rabbi is there for questions and religious advice. For the family we work with them from the point of a family member being arrested throughout the whole process. We provide them with an understanding of the system and what to expect. We also help them understand how they can help their loved one(s) and listen to their concerns and worries. Advocacy is critical for the Jewish prisoner. Being Jewish in prison is not an easy thing. Sometimes it makes a person a target for proselytizing or violence. When these concerns are raised, we work to find a solution. Observance of Jewish practice in the correctional setting is also challenging. There are cases of non-kosher food being passed off as kosher, prohibition of religious items, and other issues that come up. We work with the institutions and, if necessary, with other organizations to help resolve these issues. Our first approach is to educate the personnel at the facilities. Often through education and addressing their concerns these issues can be resolved. If necessary, we escalate, as we are the advocates for those in prison who have little voice in the matter. This advocacy extends to those who return to the community. We have spoken up on legislative issues that address the faith and practices of those who are or have been in the correctional settings, and we have connected returnees with resources to help them when they have encountered obstacles to employment or the like. Social Services provide a lifeline to those who return to the community. The transition from the institutional system of incarceration to the unstructured life of “outside” is not an easy shift. We are actively engaged with the re-entry process of those we serve. Not only do we help them with finding approved housing and help connect them with social services that will help them with their first months out of incarceration, but we also work with them one on one. We go with them to their first appointments in the community, such as to their Community Correctional Officers appointment to make sure they meet the requirements imposed by the courts and the Department of Corrections. We also meet with them on routine basis to guide and listen to their concerns with the reintegration process. For families in addition to helping them understand the process, we connect them with community resources as needed. We also reach out to the family to ensure their educational and religious needs are being met during this challenging time.