Council to Consult in Pilot Program for Jews and Noahides in Federal Prisons
05/01/2006
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is developing an experimental program
designed for inmates who are preparing for release from prison and who
wish to re-connect with their religious roots or even learn about a
particular religion. There are similar faith-based programs attempting
to restore the lives of prisoners but this new plan approaches the task
according to a specific or single-faith such Judaism. The High Council
of Bnei Noah has been invited to participate with existing Jewish
prison outreaches to structure a plan to teach Torah and the Seven Laws
to non-Jews in the pilot program.
The Bureau of Prisons calls it the Residential Re-Entry Program and
believes it will, "reduce recidivism through promoting the virtues of
productive work, respect for others, self-worth and responsibility,"
This would be accomplished by allowing the inmate to interface with
the community of faithful and also match inmates with personal
mentors. High Council member Jim Long was asked to be part of the
planning session for the pilot program held this past April 18th, in
Washington, DC.
A panel of chaplains and Department of Justice representatives outlined
the provisions for budget proposals, staffing and curriculum for the
eighteen-month experiment that will be implemented in at least one
Federal institution and possibly as many six. The plan will provide for
dorms where inmates of a single faith can interact.
One of the programs major guidelines specifies that an inmate
interested in, for example Judaism, but who is not Jewish is still
eligible to enroll in the Jewish program. The participation of Noahide
teachers in a Jewish re-entry program would allow for a comfortable mix
of the more observant Jews with non-Jews drawn to the riches and
transforming power of Torah.
In outlining the Council's possible input, Long recalled a rabbi in
Jerusalem who taught recovering Jewish drug addicts. But instead of the
typical 12 Step Program, the rabbi employed a Seven Step Program based
on the Seven Laws of Noah. He believed that getting a son or daughter
of Israel back on the right path required them to begin by being good
Noahides. From there he would lead them back to the 613 Mitzvot. In
addition to providing input for developing the Jewish re-entry plan,
the High Council will be looking outside of the council membership for
Noahide staffers who are experienced in prison outreach, education and
social work. They will be needed on-site at the prison facility (most
likely in central New Jersey). Long conjectures, "If this experiment is
a success, we could eventually see full-blown re-entry programs
strictly for non-Jewish inmates who want to learn Torah and the Seven
Laws both at State and other Federal correctional facilities." Interested parties should contact the High Council through this web site.
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