For the first time in nearly a decade, the sound of Torah learning once again echoed through the halls of FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey.

Earlier this month, the Aleph Institute brought its flagship Yeshiva in Prison Program to the largest federal correctional facility in the country. For two transformative days, 15 incarcerated Jewish men immersed themselves in intense chavrusa learning, inspiring shiurim, heartfelt tefillah, spirited singing, and meaningful conversations alongside visiting rabbinical students and chaplains.

For those 48 hours, a federal prison was transformed into a living, breathing beit midrash.

For many participants, the experience served as a profound spiritual awakening. Chaplain Chanania Steinmetz, who helped facilitate the program at Fort Dix, shared one interaction that deeply moved him: “There was one man who didn’t seem too engaged that first day,” he recalled. “But when the program finished, he confessed: ‘I honestly didn’t think I would care to hear what the bochurim had to say… but this felt so different. I felt like I was truly able to receive from them and genuinely benefit from this.'”

Steinmetz continued: “As Chassidus teaches, even a small amount of light can push away tremendous darkness. Bringing Torah anywhere is powerful. But bringing it into a place filled with struggle, loneliness, and pain can become a true lifeline for people searching for hope and meaning.”

Ben*, incarcerated at a federal prison in Florida, had participated in a past Yeshiva in Prison program. “The program gave us the opportunity to step outside the prison walls—at least spiritually; there’s still that darn fence!” he said. “These volunteers were so compassionate, knowledgeable, and made it feel as though the experience was just as meaningful for them as it was for us.”

Another participant reflected: “Hashem blessed us mightily the whole time… but what I enjoyed most was the ‘air of togetherness’ I felt with my fellow Jews.”
For many incarcerated individuals who have spent years feeling forgotten, isolated, or spiritually disconnected, the Yeshiva in Prison program serves as a powerful reminder: there is still a community beyond the concrete walls—and they are still very much a part of it.

Behind every program comes months of careful coordination. Rabbi Yossi Cohen, Director of Religious Education at Aleph, worked closely with Chaplain Steinmetz to bring the Fort Dix program to life—recruiting the bochurim, preparing the learning, and navigating the logistics of running a two-day immersive yeshiva inside a federal facility. “Putting together a program like this is no small undertaking,” he shared. “Recruiting a group of bochurim willing to give their time, coordinating every detail with the chaplain, preparing the learning—it all takes real effort. But the moment you walk into the room and hear the Torah being learned, and then hear the participants share what it meant to them, every bit of the preparation becomes worth it. It’s also why we’re always looking for more bochurim to join us.”

“Every single time we conclude a Yeshiva in Prison program, the first question we hear is: ‘When are you coming back? Can we do this every week?’” says Rabbi Aaron Lipskar, CEO of the Aleph Institute. “For individuals who may feel written off by society or distant from their Judaism, this program sends a clear message: You still matter. And your soul still has infinite value.”

On Shavuot, we’re reminded how the Torah belongs to every Jew, regardless of circumstance, background, or where they may find themselves.

And thanks to Aleph, sometimes that light shines brightest behind prison walls.
To learn more about the Aleph Institute or explore volunteer opportunities, visit https://aleph-institute.org/volunteer/