https://www.jpsi.org/news daily 0.75 2025-08-12 https://www.jpsi.org/news/high-holidays-at-u-district-minyan-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-08-12 https://www.jpsi.org/news/the-fast-of-tisha-bav-is-this-sunday monthly 0.5 2022-08-04 https://www.jpsi.org/news/qampa-what-its-like-to-be-a-jewish-prisoner-on-yom-kippur monthly 0.5 2022-06-17 https://www.jpsi.org/news/w54i4v6hmlxngaknm5no9zvl5uxxny monthly 0.5 2023-11-20 https://www.jpsi.org/news/alqkoupbxejvqrdpngysh7mqj23t75 monthly 0.5 2022-01-28 https://www.jpsi.org/news/a2ogsc14k3032v4qhammhwivb4vyd1 monthly 0.5 2022-01-30 https://www.jpsi.org/news/dmj6ytpy0knktp7zb79vubmuc0snjg monthly 0.5 2022-01-30 https://www.jpsi.org/news/jvf4xl5ilr3ih4s11d1mz396qxvzh0 monthly 0.5 2022-01-30 https://www.jpsi.org/news/menorahs-and-cards-in-prison monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/a7ce03db-9e94-4b5b-81c6-d78231bd3068/MenorahAndCards.jpg News - Menorahs and Cards in Prison - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.jpsi.org/news/d28wq13538lk9bg29qg8erybbqzzfh monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://www.jpsi.org/news/9r3bv3z92vjqhkm0ovqi5c58ojriau monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://www.jpsi.org/news/keeping-the-faith monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/632a7901-6ebb-4a5b-9bb2-ea83c6cabe6d/no_mainstream.jpg News - Rewriting Leviticus https://www.jpsi.org/news/jewish-con monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://www.jpsi.org/news/chaplaincy-today monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://www.jpsi.org/news/category/lifecycle monthly 0.5 https://www.jpsi.org/news/category/newsletter monthly 0.5 https://www.jpsi.org/news/category/holidays monthly 0.5 https://www.jpsi.org/news/tag/bde monthly 0.5 https://www.jpsi.org/news/tag/garyfriedman monthly 0.5 https://www.jpsi.org/news/tag/holiday monthly 0.5 https://www.jpsi.org/home daily 1.0 2025-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/ce8794e8-bbb4-4266-be53-4dabcf299bc2/JPSI+LogoWhiteBackground.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/ce7ee854-d056-41d7-a466-8e01fac5af30/aron-visuals-LryOyGjm1bo-unsplash.jpg Home - Seeking Servies from JPSI? If you are looking for services from JPSI for you or someone you know please fill out our Inmate Info form by downloading and printing the form here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/e0af115b-883a-48e9-b92e-6b9582d4ef02/MenorahAndCards.jpg Home Chanukah Menorah and Holiday Cards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/b8ad9104-6a6d-4766-921c-fe70d0ff5e39/6S7A1846.jpg Home Prisoner blowing shofar before a Torah ark https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/45aa771b-5d13-4288-98ac-e515f6616781/cole-keister-pOCQuo4b-3E-unsplashCrop.jpg Home Israeli Flag flying at sunrise https://www.jpsi.org/about daily 0.75 2025-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/14b97d58-8b8a-4a66-8eb7-27b8776fd7b4/ye-jinghan-T5roX1jajzU-unsplash.jpg About - JPSI was founded to address the needs of Jewish prisoners and their families through chaplaincy, advocacy, and social services. JPSI began in 1984 as a program under B’nai B’rith International. In 1997 it became a separate program and is now a 501c3 non-profit under the name Congregation Shaarei Teshuvah. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/e2ca1746-2c13-4a12-bcb4-0ab184622710/amit-lahav-b-jO7Vok2yg-unsplash.jpg About - 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/e6ca6e96-0862-4b85-899c-a7acaea828eb/hans-peter-gauster-3y1zF4hIPCg-unsplash.jpg About - 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/b9e7eff2-24d5-49ee-b777-3844c6a9b19b/fre-sonneveld-K8iHtzoIKQ4-unsplash.jpg About - 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/1643524485701-A0RADH3N15B9MYWOCXJC/th.jfif About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/1643524813787-0456IT10P4XS05VLQUAX/AJALogo.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/1643525082306-6VRFV8PWGC4ZCHCLVSRH/ACCALogo.png About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/1643525386787-AQUQC5SVZP6E3BUYB9ER/IPCALogo.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/1643525614212-3HJEEBAN433HI7DWJTJ0/ICPALogo.png About https://www.jpsi.org/inmemoriam daily 0.75 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/224b7672-9bff-435f-b4d6-5ba50fe842af/GarySmile.jpg In Memoriam Chaplain Gary Friedman OBM Chaplain Gary Friedman, left this world on February 9, 2016, 30 Shevat 5776 on the Hebrew calendar. Chaplain Gary Friedman was the founder of JPSI. Gary was a good friend and mentor to many over the years. He was a primary source of research into correctional chaplaincy through the ACCA website. His devotion and support for Jewish Prisoner Services International, the Congregation Shaarei Teshuvah, and the American Jail Association are legendary. In chaplaincy to inmates in the jails in Washington and Oregon, he will be greatly missed -- as he will be greatly missed by so many in correctional chaplaincy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/8723c6c6-3c81-4244-b0b5-81535cc59c99/SteveEisenshankCropSq.jpg In Memoriam Stephen Eisenshank OBM Stephen Wayne Eisenshank lost his battle with cancer on January 9, 2022, 28 Teves 5782. He was an Electrician Mate 3rd Class in the Navy. He served in the Vietnam War on the USS Constellation. In our community Steve, as he liked to be called, loved growing plants and had an uncanny way with animals. He would hand feed the wild rabbits, squirrels and birds. Steve was a dedicated member of the Chabad House Minyan and of the JPSI board where he was a staunch advocate for transparency. He donated many bibles and prayer books. He made many donations to the kitchen at the Chabad House Minyan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/bf864ef9-4c5b-4771-ab0d-022a2586d718/kelly-miller-BL6XQLZeXpg-unsplash.jpg In Memoriam Michael Shemesh Z’’L Michael Shemesh (z”l) returned his neshamah (soul) to HaShem early on September 27th, 2019, 27 Elul 5779. During the time that we at JPSI knew Michael he was very active in ensuring the needs of fellow Jewish prisoners were met. He advocated for Jewish services, worked to ensure there was grape juice and challah for Shabbat, and was always learning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/bf864ef9-4c5b-4771-ab0d-022a2586d718/kelly-miller-BL6XQLZeXpg-unsplash.jpg In Memoriam Michael Gordon Strauss Z’’L Michael Gordon Strauss returned his soul to Hashem on October 31, 2016, 29 Tishrei 5778. He was a soldier in Vietnam and had a love of motorcycles. He made regular donations to JPSI to help us provide foods for the holidays, and care for the needs of the inmates. https://www.jpsi.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2025-12-28 https://www.jpsi.org/resources daily 0.75 2025-12-24 https://www.jpsi.org/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2022-01-24 https://www.jpsi.org/resources/jewishpractices daily 0.75 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e464cbcc1873263fa94331/244c3169-fcf4-4701-b87d-17571d358e85/menachem-weinreb-gultloZ4WHo-unsplash.jpg Jewish Practices - Make it stand out Tefillin https://www.jpsi.org/test-page daily 0.75 2023-11-20 https://www.jpsi.org/seder-in-a-box daily 0.75 2025-01-31