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The Mitzvah In Being A Pen Pal . . Testimonials Page
3
These are letters from
different Pen Pals on the outside,
which will help you understand more about the rewards of being a Pal to a Jew in prison:
From a recently released prisoner:
It is good to be home. 36 months was a long time. I do want to
tell you that I still write to the pen pal who wrote to me in
prison. He helped me keep going. He is a wonderful person...Thank
you so much for sending me an inmate's address. I am putting a stamp
on the envelope right after I send you this email and I will let you
know when I hear back. If I can write to a few other inmates, please
let me know.
" I am now ashamed
at myself. Several months ago you had to send me many Emails,
answering all of my doubts about writing to a Jewish inmate. I
now have had 4 wonderful letters from Samuel xxxxxx . He is an
interesting person and has enlightened me on topics from
pre-Columbian art to zoology...A to Z. I am ready to write
another Jewish inmate ... match me again please."
I just wanted you to know
that I DID get a letter from Reuben yesterday (he asked that I
NOT call him "Mr. Bxxxxx." - makes him feel old, and that he likes
to be called Reuben!) It was 6 handwritten pages long and FULL of
information about himself! I was SOooooo excited last
night when my husband and I read it together !! I am working on him
to having his own "Jewish prisoner" to write to..... (-:
.... I can't wait to write Reuben back! So again, todah rabah
for sending me Reuben !
From a pen pal in Canada :
Shalom, just letting
you know that Benjamin's letter arrived today, a wonderful 5 pages,
I was in tears after the 2nd page...I feel that I would like one
more pen pal, it is so good to help someone that feels
abandoned. Does my heart good.
From a pen pal in Israel
:
I am in touch with my lady in jail and we have a
nice correspondence going on. I send her pictures and
explanations of things here in Israel and she tells me that she
shares them with other Jews there. She doesn't have anyone in her
family visiting her and she says she is very happy to get my
letters. It really makes you appreciate what you have. I talked to
my husband about writing to a male prisoner - if you don't have any
more women - if it is some young man, under 30, he wouldn't
mind. (someone my children's age) so if you have a young man
send us his name. May G-d give you all the health and strength
to continue in your important work.
From Asher, a Rabbi in the US :
I will
forward your email to our bulletin editor and we'll
include the Pen Pal instructions. Meanwhile, I would like
to write a letter myself to an inmate. Please send me the
information needed, this Mitzvah and obligation is often
forgotten... I had best practice what I preach.
An active pen pal in
Australia got so excited (and upset) about our difficulty in finding
enough pen pals she sent an Email to everyone she knew:
" Hey...My friends....The Aleph Institute are still desperately
looking for pen pals for our Jewish prisoners. I myself have 2 pen
pals already, both in different parts of the USA . Email me if you
want to hear more about them, I'll be happy to share them with you,
they are both very very nice and there is nothing to be afraid
of. Please be a light for these people who are living in the
dark. IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! TRUST ME !!! "
From England :
Hello, my name is Abigail and I would like to have Jewish pen
pals. My hobbies are religion, languages, animals, charity,
volunteering, human rights, books, insect watching, nature, singing,
writing... I would like to find especially someone who could help me
to improve my Hebrew and Yiddish by writing in these languages with
translation to some other languages. I can read in English, Czech,
French, German, Italian, Russian, some Spanish, Esperanto and Farsi
(Persian). I could possibly take about 8 pen pals, as I am
working at home so I have enough time to write...If you don't find
anybody speaking Yiddish or Hebrew it doesn't matter. I can write to
others as well. Thank you. Have a nice day, bye.
From a pen pal in Arizona :
I'm thinking about participating in your Pen Pal program. I have
a unique perspective. Twelve years ago, I was incarcerated for 10
months. I spent four months in county jails and six months in
federal prison. At some time during this experience, I somehow got
on the Aleph mailing list and continue to receive your
publications..... I'd like to discuss being a pen pal of someone
middle age with children. Perhaps my in-prison experience, and the
spiritual journey I've been on during that time and since, can
help someone else.
From a pen pal in NZ:
I thought I was doing the
mitzvah but the tables have been turned and the 2 inmates seem
to be loving and caring for me ..... ...we relate so easily on
Jewish living - talking about festivals and our daily observances.
family matters, and I learn about the USA, and they about NZ.
From Moshe in Ohio:
I
was negative to start with but I now have become so positive
about life..... he's a pen friend that but for Aleph I would never
have met..... we teach each other lots about life experiences, you
matched us perfectly. Do you use a crystal ball ?
From a pen pal
in the US :
I found you (Aleph) in the notices on a Temple
bulletin - isn't that lucky for me! ...... I've never written before
to anyone I didn't know, and I know you'll find this hard to believe
but it is easier to write openly to a stranger ........Thank you
(Aleph) for doing an important humane service to forgotten
people, and for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it.
Everyone can do this Mitzvah
with only a postage stamp....Just complete the
"Let Us Match You With A Pen Pal " web page
section, and we will get back to you.
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