“My eyes are filled with tears. The package arrived just on time. I was about to go on a mission and I’d be gone for a long time… I was worried I wasn’t going to have anything for a seder. But Hashem knows—now I’m fully prepared, mentally, spiritually, and physically. I feel relieved that it all worked out.” — A Jewish American soldier, location classified.
That soldier’s name cannot be shared and his base can’t be disclosed, but on Pesach he will sit down to a seder because Aleph made sure of it, just as it does for thousands of Jews every year who would otherwise mark the holiday entirely alone.
This Pesach, Aleph is delivering matzah, seder plates, haggadahs, and holiday food packages to Jewish men and women in prisons across the country, on military bases around the world, and in communities where there is simply no one else stepping in. More than 8,000 pounds of matzah, 411 seder plates, and over 2,000 haggadahs are being shipped to prisons and military installations, alongside nearly 2,750 food packages containing eggs, gefilte fish, macaroons, and other Passover staples for incarcerated Jews. Thanks to the work of Aleph’s Family Services, hundreds of families of incarcerated individuals are having shmurah matzah delivered to their homes.
Over 35 Aleph endorsed military chaplains will be facilitating seders in some of the most remote locations on the globe—including bases in Germany, Japan, Greenland, and beyond. Through the work of Aleph’s International Advocacy team, matzah was approved to be delivered to prisons for over 40 incarcerated Jews across India, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Spain.
“The Rebbe taught us that the Exodus must be part of a Jew’s life every day, and that we must see ourselves as if we had been liberated from Egypt today,” says Rabbi Aaron Lipskar, Aleph’s CEO. “Sometimes, that journey begins with a simple reminder: you are not alone. And maybe it means discovering, even for just a moment, that you were never forgotten. At Aleph, we strive to ensure that thousands of Jews, no matter where they may be, can feel that truth in a real and tangible way, day in and day out.”
To help bring the joy and spirit of Pesach to thousands of isolated Jewish souls in prisons, on military bases, and in vulnerable communities around the world, visit aleph-institute.org/pesach.
