In a remarkable breakthrough, the Aleph Institute’s Sparks of Lights Correspondence Courses for incarcerated individuals are now officially recognized and accredited by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
There are more than 1,500 men and women enrolled in Aleph’s 32 courses, and approximately 8,000 people have participated over the years, learning about everything from Jewish law, Kabbalah, and Hebrew reading to Tanya, Rambam, and Chassidus. The courses are a valuable spiritual and emotional lifeline for those who find themselves isolated in one of the darkest places imaginable.
One participant wrote to us: “I was in a very dark place when I requested the Correspondence courses. Hashem had it delivered exactly on time… I had reached the point where I felt I could no longer bear another day. I read these through several times that night, by the light in my doorway. By morning I realized the great wrong I had been about to do and flushed the pills down the toilet.”
As part of the monumental First Step Act (a bill that Aleph and the Tzedek Association helped pass into law in 2018), the BOP provides program incentives to individuals who are convicted of a non-violent federal offense, to shorten the length of time spent behind bars. Now, anyone who is eligible to enroll in these BOP classes can take Aleph’s courses and have their sentence reduced by up to 15 days per month for every 30 days that they participate!
A dedicated team from Aleph, led by Rabbis Yossi Cohen, Mendy Katz, Berel Paltiel, and by Sarah Lazar, worked for eight months to get the accreditation, spending countless hours filling out applications and submitting curricula for approval. After the BOP sent out its monthly newsletter announcing that Aleph’s courses were accredited, there was an influx of new applicants.
“It is abundantly clear that studying the Torah and its timeless lessons are part of the vital path towards reducing recidivism, as well as a critical part of the rehabilitation process,” said Rabbi Cohen. “We are so appreciative that the BOP has recognized that learning Torah and exploring Jewish values and ethics can help people lead more meaningful lives.”
Aleph’s Education team is working on redesigning and enhancing its course materials, while continuing to offer additional learning opportunities, including its MP3 program (with 8,000+ educational audio files) and Torah on the Phone initiative. The courses are available to everyone at no charge, and the program is expanding to include families at home so everyone can learn and grow together.
Our rabbis teach that every soul was present at Mount Sinai for the giving of the Torah. As we approach the holiday of Shavuos, it is an auspicious time to tap into that Divine spark that shines within each of us and celebrate the eternal gift of the Torah and its timeless traditions.
This Shavuos, help Aleph spread the light of Torah to these precious souls in prison. Click here to make a donation to support Aleph’s educational programs or to sponsor a day of learning in honor of a loved one.
