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Jews Behind Bars from page 10

Rabbi Katz said representatives
from the Aleph Institute have met with

Michigan Attorney General William
Schuette and members of Gov. Rick
Snyder's staff about the issue.
"It's a major problem in Michigan," Katz
said. "Vegan food [in the prisons] is not
kosher"
Michigan Department of Corrections
officials maintain the vegan meals com-
ply with all religious beliefs and satisfy
basic nutritional requirements.
Gabi Silver, a partner at Detroit-based
Cripps and Silver Law, said getting
kosher food for Jewish
clients in jail is an
ongoing problem. Last
spring, after previ-
ous requests from
district court had
been ignored, it took
a signed order from a
Wayne County Circuit
Gabi Silver
Court judge to obtain
kosher food for a Jewish inmate.
"I don't know why a court order was
necessary; it shouldn't have to be that
hard" said Silver, who added that inter-
vention by a local rabbi was necessary to
obtain kosher food for another client in
the Oakland County Jail.

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12

March 6 • 2014

Family Support

Assisting the families of incarcerated Jews
is also an important part of the work that
Rabbi Hornsten and other clergy mem-
bers do in relation to Jewish prisoners.
"It's devastating
when your child is sent
to jail" said Hornsten,
who has counseled
family members and
put them in touch with
others in similar situ-
ations. "It's important
Rabbi Hornsten for families to know
they're part of the
Jewish community, that we don't judge
them and that they're not alone:'
Evan Sherman said his family was very
supportive — calling, visiting and sending
money — until his last incarceration. "I
burned them out" he said. "I can't blame
them"
After that, his father, Sheldon, cut off
all contact, and his mother, Barbara,
stopped visiting and sending money. The
Shermans now live in Florida.
"I finally said `no:" Barbara said. "I took
his phone calls because I still wanted to
talk to him, but I wasn't going to allow
myself to be disappointed again"
Today Evan is on good terms with
both parents, and he regrets the pain
they endured as a result of his actions.
He described the anguish he felt seeing
the guards search his parents before they
entered the visiting room.
"You just want to scream bloody murder
watching your mother get frisked" he said.
"But they were willing to go through it just

to see me. That meant everything:'
The Aleph Institute provides family
support that includes counseling, support
groups for spouses and other programs.
"For every prisoner, there is also a
mother, father, wife, sister, brother or

child; they are struggling socially, mental-
ly, emotionally and financially" Katz said.
The organization also maintains funds
to assist families with visiting costs and
provide summer camp experiences for
children of prisoners.
"I have never had a family tell me this
is a shandeh [shame]; Gordon said. "They
really, really want to help their loved ones
... sometimes the families do not have the
emotional strength or financial means.
When they contact me, I offer words
of encouragement and suggestions for
counseling, organizations and venues for
continued Jewish learning"

Troubling Transitions

While release from prison puts an end to
the horror of incarceration, freedom can
also mark the beginning of a new set of
problems. Finding work is difficult, and
the Jewish community can be less than
welcoming.
"There is not much support in the com-
munity; very few places will take them"
said Blumstein of Friendship House. "In a
way, I understand, but the flip side is that
people need a second chance"
Pinson recalls an elderly man, now
deceased, who was rejected by the local
Jewish assisted-living facilities because
of his background.
Sherman attends weekly services at The
Shul in West Bloomfield, where he feels
welcome and accepted, but this is not
always the case in every congregation.
"From a community perspective, if
someone spent time in jail, most syna-
gogues [and congregants] will not be
too excited to have them as a member"
Pinson said. "If a person is Jewish, he
wants to feel safe. And we have had situa-
tions where we helped people with check-
ered pasts, and it backfired"
Nelson said there is a need for a more
extensive chaplaincy program and a better
support system within the Jewish com-
munity at large.
Katz agrees, adding that it is going to
take "a lot of education" to improve the
situation.
Sherman and his family remain hope-
ful he will find the support he needs to
get his life on track, including finding
gainful employment. He has experience
working in restaurants and food service,
dating back to the former Pickle Barrel
restaurant, and is also skilled at home
improvement tasks such as painting and
ceramic tile installation. He said he is
not afraid of working hard and taking on
new challenges.
"I have faith, as long as I don't give in
and continue to do the right things" he
said.

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