By COLlive reporter
“Every month they give me 300 minutes of time to talk on the phone, which means 10 minutes a day. Thank G-d, I have 10 children, so to have a real conversation with everyone is impossible.”
This is just one aspect of the life of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, former CEO of Agriprocessors, once the largest kosher slaughterhouse in the United States, behind bars.
Convicted of fraud, Rubashkin was harshly sentenced to 27 years and is currently serving at the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville (FCI Otisville), a medium-security federal prison for male inmates near Otisville, New York.
Rubashkin recently met with Bentzi Sasson, a family friend, for a conversation about his life, which is published in the Pesach edition of the Kfar Chabad magazine.
He begins his day at around 4:30 AM, when he starts to study Chassidus until the doors of his cell open at around 6:00 AM. He then goes to shower which he views as an alternative to dipping in the Mikvah before davening Shachris.
During the day, inmates are numbered several times, and they spend approximately 9-10 day-time hours in the cell.
After davening, Rubashkin turns to breakfast, “if you can call it that, since the kosher food served in prison isn’t exactly edible,” Sasson writes.
During the week, Rubashkin mostly eats Matzah and tuna fish, which he purchases in the cafeteria. When visitors come, they are permitted to buy him packaged meals and warm it up in the microwave.
Throughout the day, Rubashkin spends his day learning, writing Torah thoughts, helping others put on Tefillin, and writing back to the many who send him letters.
Every Wednesday he presents a class in Tanya, and after Mincha in the chapel, he sits with fellow inmates and studies Gemara as part of the Chalukas Hashas.
As organized as this life may sounds, Rubashkin admits: “There are things you can never get used to.”
Throughout the conversation, which appears in this week’s Kfar Chabad Magazine, Rubashkin expressed his steadfast faith in Hashem and His plans.
all number 11 was saying is in essence its really in hashems hands
Im sure if it were a close member of YOUR family who was in this predicament you wouldn’t have a live and let live attitude!
If President Donald Trump is going to make America great again, a good place to start would be to pardon SMR ASAP!!
as much as ivanka can “help” its all in the hands of the aibishter
Painful to read…S.M. Rubashkin’s wife and children suffering from a brutal government.
When will America truly become ‘civilized?’ Presdient Donal Trump wants to make America ‘Great’ again…If this government & Israeli Government don’t observe ‘The 7 Noahide Laws’ they are not even civilized.
(Yes Israel does not observe these laws. Jail is forbidden & there is ‘same gender’ depravity in both states.)
DONALD TRUMP IS NOW OURPRESIDENT AND JARED KUSHNER HIS SON IN LAW SO WHAT GIVES
WHERES THE PARDON WE ALL EXPECTED??
SMR SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING PESACH STILL IN JAIL
Time is finished. Enough is Enough.
May he be released today and have true redemption in this chag of redemption
May he be released NOW
poshut a BILBUL
She went to the Ohel before the election and belongs to a Chabad shul in WDC. They say she convinced her father to bomb Syria, she can’t convince him to pardon Shalom Mordechai? Obama was too busy pardoning drug dealers en masse before he left office…
There is nothing like being behind the wall/gate of a prison. Hearing stories of Rabbi Rubashkin made it more bearable. I want to thank you sharing your emuna with others. It really helped me while I was a gone from my family. I pray for your return to your family.
Y’ishuas hashem k’here ayien.
May has hem protect SMH and watch over him and give him strength to overcome all obstacles.
May he have his y’itzias mitzraiem today.
Chagrin samaech .
Rav Sholom Mordechai Halevi Ben Rivka we are davening for you. We continue to draw inspiration from you. May you celebrate this Pesach in true freedom together with your beautiful family.
IN MY CLASS WE SAY DAILY TEHILIM FORYOU.
YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. MAY YOU BE RELEASED REALSOON. MAY REID DROP DEAD.