-Introduction
Why people here? Related experience?
A Jewish Calling
Unconditional Dignity - "James" in Solitary
Rabbi Irving "Yitz" Greenberg, National Jewish Resource Center
According to Jewish Tradition, the perfection of life is that every human being be and become an image of God - infinite in value, equal, unique.
Aseh L'kha Rav 3:57, Rabbi Chaim David HaLevy (20th C), Former Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yaffo
By all opinions, punishment is not a goal unto itself. Rather, it is intended to return the criminal to doing right or “so that they will listen and fear.” What benefit is prison from this perspective? The punishment of prison has existed in different forms forever. And experience proves that imprisonment does not rehabilitate the criminal…In addition to this, it also causes further harm after his release from prison…there is serious concern that additional crimes will become his way, in the absence of any other choice…
But we have brought this to learn the foundation of the holy Torah’s perspective on human freedom and the social nature of the human being, created in the image of God, that no other person has the right to confine the human spirit, or his freedom of movement, or his freedom, which are holy of holies among all creations in the image of God, and in each generation, we must devise appropriate punishments for criminals that are consistent with the Torah’s outlook and with the conditions of life. One of the great legal minds of our generation said, “It is our obligation to be concerned about just law; more than that, it is our obligation to be concerned about the criminal himself; more than that, it is our obligation to be concerned with the dignity of humanity.” And we will add, in the spirit of our holy Torah: The greatest of our obligations is to be concerned with the Tzelem Elohim [divine image] which is in humanity, “for in the image of God, God created humanity.” (translated by Rabbi Jill Jacobs)
Related solitary story on supplement (not for public viewing)
Matir Assurim: A Beit Midrash in Jail - "Four Children"
Responsa Hikkei Lev 2: HM 5, Rabbi Chaim Palagi (19th C), Turkey
It seems that even so, the Torah did not give permission to place someone in a prison that is cramped, for prisons are only for keeping a person to ensure he doesn’t escape...Even more so, we should not place him in a prison that’s soiled, where he will not be able to study Torah or to keep the mitzvot. For even if the Torah gave us permission, since even though he has sinned and must be imprisoned in a prison, he has not ceased to be a Jew. (translated by Rabbi Jill Jacobs)
Related story on supplement (not for public viewing)
Patience for Teshuva - "Shlomo" and Rabbi Akiva
(ד) אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַתְּשׁוּבָה מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל הַכּל וְעַצְמוֹ שֶׁל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר. יֵשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁהֵן מִתְכַּפְּרִים לִשְׁעָתָן וְיֵשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּפְּרִים אֶלָּא לְאַחַר זְמַן.
(4) Even on the presumption that repentance atones for all sins, and the Day of Atonement as such, too, atones, there are yet certain sins which are wiped off at the time, and certain other sins which are are not wiped off but after a lapse of time.
(ד) מִדַּרְכֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה לִהְיוֹת הַשָּׁב צוֹעֵק תָּמִיד לִפְנֵי הַשֵּׁם בִּבְכִי וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים וְעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה כְּפִי כֹּחוֹ וּמִתְרַחֵק הַרְבֵּה מִן הַדָּבָר שֶׁחָטָא בּוֹ וּמְשַׁנֶּה שְׁמוֹ כְּלוֹמַר אֲנִי אַחֵר וְאֵינִי אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ שֶׁעָשָׂה אוֹתָן הַמַּעֲשִׂים וּמְשַׁנֶּה מַעֲשָׂיו כֻּלָּן לְטוֹבָה וּלְדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה וְגוֹלֶה מִמְּקוֹמוֹ. שֶׁגָּלוּת מְכַפֶּרֶת עָוֹן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁגּוֹרֶמֶת לוֹ לְהִכָּנַע וְלִהְיוֹת עָנָו וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ:
(4) Among the ways of repentance are, for the penitent to continue to cry out in tearful supplication before the Name, to bestow alms according to his means, and to distance himself exceedingly from the thing wherein he sinned, to have his indentity changed, as if saying: "I am now another person, and not that person who perpetrated those misdeeds", to completely change his conduct for the good and straight path, and to exile himself from his place of residence, for exile atones iniquity, because it leads him to submissiveness and to be meek and humble-spirited.4Rosh-ha-Shanah, 16b. C.
How to Comfort? Just Listen
Free Minds Book Club activity