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    • Contact Information 
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    • About Me 
    • Volunteer Opportunities 
    • Friendship Correspondent Program:
      We are looking for volunteers who want to build a relationship with an inmate in prison or people going through addiction/recovery through letter writing. Aleph ensures privacy and safety through handling all mail interchanges.

      Torah on the phone:
      We are looking for volunteers who would like to become Study partners/ Chavrusas with inmates once a week for 15 minutes over the phone. Studying could include sharing a Dvar Torah on the current Parsha, sharing a nice thought or story or any text based learning.

      Prison Visitations / Aleph Visitation Circle (AVC):
      We are looking for volunteers throughout the United States who would be willing to go visit Jewish Inmates in a Federal, State or County Prison and provide camaraderie, kinship and friendship during their difficult time.

      Translations:
      Translate documents and texts (professional translators are especially encouraged)

      Fundraising Campaigns:
      We have campaigns to fundraise for Aleph. We’re looking for people who would be interested in helping with mailings, phone-a-thons, social media outreach and other efforts.

      Circle of Kindness:
      Join a network of individuals ready to respond when a mitzvah opportunity arises.
      Whether it’s visiting the elderly, assisting with errands, or offering support. Your presence in our database enables us to reach out when your help is needed.

      Aleph Angel Volunteer Program:
      We are seeking volunteers aged 21+ for a 6-month commitment to communicate weekly with family members of incarcerated people. Conversations will last 45 minutes to an hour, held via phone or zoom. Volunteers will listen and assist with daily living activities, with regular check-ins with our Aleph Family Department.

       

       

  • AVC Guidelines and Instructions


    SCHEDULE
    Please arrive at least 15 -30 minutes before your scheduled visit to allow time for processing and entry.


    DOCUMENTATION 
    Please make sure to have an up-to-date ID. Without your ID, they will deny you entry to the facility. If you are driving to the prison, some prisons require up-to-date registration and insurance cards to park on the premises. 


    DRESS CODE
    Wear clothing appropriate for a large gathering of men, women, and young children. Wearing inappropriate clothing (such as provocative or revealing clothes) may result in you being denied entry to the prison. Please note that you will be required to go through a metal detector, so please avoid wearing any items containing metal or underwires.


    The following clothing items are generally not permitted. Still, please consult the visiting policy for the specific facility as to what attire and items are allowed in the visiting room: 

    Revealing Shorts 
    Halter Tops 
    Bathing Suits 
    See-through Garments Of Any Type 
    Crop Tops 
    Low-cut Blouses Or Dresses 
    Leotards 
    Spandex 
    Miniskirts 
    Backless Tops 
    Hats Or Caps 
    Sleeveless Garments 
    Skirts Two Inches Or More Above The Knee 
    Dresses Or Skirts With A High-cut Split In The Back, Front, Or Side 
    Clothing That Looks Like Inmate Clothing (Khaki Or Green Military-type Clothing)

     

    PREPARATION
    Visitation at Prisons can be suspended at any time. Therefore we strongly encourage all volunteers, before leaving for a visit, to check the list of Prisons on the BOP website ( https://www.bop.gov/locations/list.jsp ), and check the visitation schedule of the prison you are visiting. If the prison suspends visitation, they will update that information on the website.


    Additionally, on that page, you will find the prison's phone number. We encourage you to call in advance to ensure the prison is not on lockdown. The AVC coordinator will try to find out this information and warn you in advance, but we still strongly encourage the volunteers to double-check. 

     

    ITEMS ENTERING
    You are not allowed to bring anything with you into the prison without special permission, including your cell phone. The prison staff might ask you to leave your car keys in a locker in the lobby. Once you are in, you may ask the staff for a pen and paper to use during the visit. However, it cannot stay with the inmate after. 


    INSTRUCTIONS
    These visits are set up as Volunteer Visits. You will not be on the approved visitor list (like a regular visitor). A special memo in the guard booth states that you are authorized to visit these inmates as a volunteer. Upon arrival, please say that you are visiting as a volunteer visitor rather than a regular visitor, and they should pull up your clearance memo. Please note you are not a religious volunteer, which the chaplain would approve. You are a social visiting volunteer, which the Reentry Affairs Coordinator approves. If they cannot find your memo, ask to speak to the RAC (re-entry affairs coordinator) who processed the memo. If he/she is unavailable, you can ask for the IDO (Institution Duty Officer) and explain the situation. 


    VENDING MACHINE
    There are vending machines in the visiting room for visitors to use and give to Inmates. If you would like to buy something for the inmate, ask the guard first, he/she should permit you. They do not allow large bills. Quarters are the best option and must be in a small clear plastic bag. Some prisons also allow $1’s and $5’s. This is NOT a requirement for AVC volunteers.

    DURATION
    Generally, we advise visiting for 30-90 min. 


    CONTACT.
    You are not allowed to be in current contact with any inmate in the BOP system, and if you know or have ever known anyone incarcerated in the BOP, you must fill in the disclosure information.

    As a volunteer, you are not allowed to have any contact with a federal inmate other than in the visiting room during visits. If any emails, phone calls, or letters are sent, they will remove your volunteer status, and it could jeopardize the whole AVC program.


    DIFFICULTIES
    If you have any difficulties getting in before you leave, please contact the AVC department, included below, in the order listed so we can try to resolve the issue. 


    YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THESE GUIDELINES, UNDERSTAND THE AVC GUIDELINES, AND WILL BE BOUND BY THESE GUIDELINES. 

    Richard Rosenblum 
    AVC Coordinator 
    786-966-7467
    avc@aleph-institute.org 


    Rabbi Mendi Hendel 
    Visitations Coordinator
    786-966-7468 
    mhendel@aleph-institute.org 


    Rabbi Mendy Katz
    Director of Prison Programs
    305-725-2439
    mendy@aleph-institute.org 


    P.S After the visit you will receive an email with a quick form to fill out. Filling out the online form will help us keep our records up to date and determine if there are any concerns we should know about to help smooth out the process in the future.

  • Torah On The Phone Guidelines and Instructions


    INTRODUCTION


    The Aleph Torah on The Phone Program (TOTP) was created to serve as the vehicle whereby inmates who desire to further their education can regularly speak with a TOTP volunteer. This program is open to the thousands of Jewish inmates in Federal or State prisons across the United States. Inmates have the ability to Study, learn and debate our Jewish heritage, the Torah, over the phone, on their schedule.


    The  Torah on The Phone Program helps people explore their Judaism.

    Tell us about their interests, their familiarity, and their availability, and we'll pair them with a volunteer study partner for a journey of inspiring study, stimulating discussion, and exhilarating growth.


    WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?


    Professionals, students, and homemakers of every age and background connect once a week with a volunteer to study the Torah, analyze the Talmud, and discover Kabbalah's spirituality and man's purpose on earth.


    ANY PLACE. ANY TOPIC. ANY TIME.

     

    QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A TOTP MENTOR


    Possess basic knowledge of Yiddishkeit, Customs, Holiday Observances, and Torah Topics. You do not need to be a scholar to help someone. You will act as a guide, drawing on many sources to help you with your mentoring.
    Have a telephone that an inmate can call.  No google phone numbers are allowed, and phone calls are never allowed to be a conference call or forwarded to another number.
    Only men are allowed to mentor male inmates, and only female volunteers can mentor female inmates.

    HOW THE TOTP PROGRAM WORKS


    You will be asked for a range of times that you are available to take a call.  This can be daytime or evening Sunday through Friday early afternoon. The actual time calls will occur mostly depends on the inmate’s phone availability. 
    During the initial call, you should establish a weekly schedule.
    The program is designed to be a once-a-week 15-minute call. Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule, and you will determine if you wish to extend the length of the calls.
    Inmates are prohibited from asking you for favors, contacting others on their behalf, requesting financial assistance, or asking for gifts. If that happens, you must report it to Aleph. They may not ask you to contact a lawyer or other service providers.  Aleph has programs that can address all these issues for the inmate, and you should direct them to contact Aleph with any of those concerns.
    Inmates are not permitted to call more often than you have agreed upon.  
    The average cost of a 15-minute phone call from an inmate is $3.00 or less. If you can cover the cost of these calls, Aleph will be greatly appreciative. If you cannot, Aleph will make arrangements to cover the cost. The costs of calls should never be an obstacle to fulfilling our mission.
    You can, of course, mentor more than one inmate.  If you are willing to speak with more than one inmate per week, please let us know, and we will match you with someone.
    In most cases, the inmate will have to register your phone # with his institution to begin calling. Depending on the location, this can take a few days to many weeks. 

     

     

    YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THESE GUIDELINES, UNDERSTAND THE TORAH ON THE PHONE GUIDELINES, AND WILL BE BOUND BY THESE GUIDELINES.


    Richard Rosenblum 
    AVC Coordinator 
    786-966-7467
    avc@aleph-institute.org 


    Rabbi Mendi Hendel 
    Visitations Coordinator
    786-966-7468 
    mhendel@aleph-institute.org 


    Rabbi Mendy Katz
    Director of Prison Programs
    305-725-2439
    mendy@aleph-institute.org 


    P.S After the visit you will receive an email with a quick form to fill out. Filling out the online form will help us keep our records up to date and determine if there are any concerns we should know about to help smooth out the process in the future.

  • Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement

    This Agreement is made between {name} (Volunteer) and Aleph Institute, on {date}.


    Volunteer will perform services for ALEPH INSTITUTE which may require ALEPH INSTITUTE to disclose confidential and proprietary information ("Confidential Information") to Volunteer. (Confidential Information is any information of any kind, nature, or description concerning any matters affecting or relating to Volunteer's services for ALEPH INSTITUTE, the business or operations of ALEPH INSTITUTE, and/or the products, drawings, plans, processes, or other data of ALEPH INSTITUTE). Accordingly, to protect the ALEPH INSTITUTE Confidential Information that will be disclosed to Volunteer, the Volunteer agrees as follows. 


    Volunteer will hold the Confidential Information received from ALEPH INSTITUTE in strict confidence and shall exercise a reasonable degree of care to prevent disclosure to others. 
    Volunteer will not disclose or divulge either directly or indirectly the Confidential Information to others unless first authorized to do so in writing by ALEPH INSTITUTE.
    Volunteer will not reproduce the Confidential Information nor use this information commercially or for any purpose other than the performance of his/her duties for ALEPH INSTITUTE.
    Volunteer will, upon the request or upon termination of his/her relationship with ALEPH INSTITUTE, deliver to ALEPH INSTITUTE any drawings, notes, documents, equipment, and materials received from ALEPH INSTITUTE or originating from its activities for ALEPH INSTITUTE.
    ALEPH INSTITUTE shall have the sole right to determine the treatment of any information that is part or project specific received from Volunteer, including the right to keep the same as a trade secret, to use and disclose the same without prior patent applications, to file copyright registrations in its own name or to follow any other procedure as ALEPH INSTITUTE may deem appropriate.
    ALEPH INSTITUTE reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including termination for violations of this agreement.

    Volunteer represents and warrants that it is not under any preexisting obligations inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

    RELEASE OF LIABILITY


    Please read this form carefully. Note that by signing this waiver and release and participating in the volunteer activities described below, you will be expressly assuming the risk and legal liability and waiving and releasing all claims for injuries, damages, or loss which you might sustain as a result of any and all activities connected with and associated with the volunteer activities.


    I, the undersigned Volunteer (hereafter referred to using “I”, “me”, or “my”), am 18 years of age or older, and am voluntarily performing service for The Aleph Institute (the “Institute”) of my own free will and without any promise or remuneration, compensation, or benefits, including insurance. I acknowledge that within the course and scope of the Institute’s volunteer activities and all related activities, including any activities incidental to such participation (the “Volunteer Activities”), as a volunteer, I may be exposed to hazards or risks that may result in my illness, personal injury, or death and I understand and appreciate the nature of such hazards and risks. To the best of my knowledge, I can fully participate in the Volunteer Activities. In consideration of being permitted to participate in the Volunteer Activities I hereby accept all risk to my health, including any injury or death, and property that may occur while I am acting within the course and scope of the Volunteer Activities as a volunteer or otherwise participating in the Volunteer Activities.


    Also in consideration of being permitted to participate in the Volunteer Activities I hereby release and agree not to sue the Institute or its officers, directors, employees, sub-contractors, sponsors, agents and affiliates from all present and future claims that may be made by me, my family, estate, heirs, or assigns for property damage, personal injury, or wrongful death arising as a result of my participation in the Volunteer Activities wherever, whenever, or however the same may occur.


    I understand and agree that the Institute is not responsible for any injury or property damage arising out of the Volunteer Activities, even if caused by their ordinary negligence or otherwise. I also agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Institute for all claims arising out of my participation in the Volunteer Activities.


    I also acknowledge that the Institute is not an insurer of my personal safety or property. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INSTITUTE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MEDICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY INJURY I MAY SUSTAIN. I also understand that I should and am urged by the Institute to obtain adequate health and accident insurance to cover any personal injury to myself which may be sustained during the Volunteer Activities or

    the transportation to and from said Volunteer Activities. 


    I further agree to become familiar with the rules and regulations of the Institute and not to violate said rules or any directive or instruction made by the person or persons in charge of said Volunteer Activities and that I will further assume the complete risk of any activity done in

    violation of any rule or directive or instruction. 


    I understand that this document is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of California and agree that if any portion of this Agreement is invalid, the remainder will continue in full legal force and effect.


    I also understand that this document is a contract which grants certain rights to and eliminates the liability of the Institute.


    I am of legal age and am freely signing this agreement. I have read this form and understand that by signing this form, I am giving up legal rights and remedies.


    Signing below signifies that the Volunteer agrees to the terms and conditions of the agreement stated above.

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