Apple Dipped in Honey: For a Sweet New Year! - Jews in Green

NATIONALLiberator.IOFFICIALSSupportObservanceof HighHoly DaysThe following is partial text of a memorandumwhich was sent to all wardens by the FederalBureau of Prisons in past years.We have included this information in the NationalLiberator in order to clarify to Jewish inmates inState and County facilities that the Federal prisonsystem makes all the appropriate accommodationsfor the Jewish High Holy Days. This informationshould help encourage state and county officials todo the same.This memorandum is intended to provideguidelines for planning an appropriatelevel of High Holyday observances for theJewish inmates in your institution. Theincrease in the number of Orthodox Jewishinmates and their designations throughoutthe system indicate the need for widercirculation of the guidelines so that allconcerned can make informed decisions usingthe same guidelines and procedures.Rosh HashanahThe Rosh Hashanah Observance begins atsundown, local time, on Elul 29. Tishrei 1-2 are days on which all work is prohibitedby Jewish law. Weekend days free from workare not transferred to week days. Jewishinmates making a written request for thesedays off work should be accommodated.Opportunities for congregational worshipand fellowship should be provided on bothdays. Arrangements should be made for thesounding of the Shofar on both days or RoshHashanah. This needs to be planned andannounced in advance, so that all Jewishinmates have the opportunity to hear thesounding of the Shofar.Yom Kippur is observed by a total fast forapproximately 25 hours. The fast begins atsundown on Tishrei 9 and concludes an hourafter sundown on Tishrei 10. Because of theseverity of the fast, a substantial pre-fastmeal should be provided and a meal equal innutrition to the missed meals should beprovided at the close of the fast.Work is prohibited. In addition to abstainingfrom food and drink, it is forbidden to batheor wear leather shoes. Inmates who make therequest in writing may be provided canvasshoes and white uniforms to wear on that day.This festival is based on the commandment todwell in a sukkah, or temporary dwelling, foreight days. In the community, Jews eat, visitand sometimes sleep in a specially built hutmade of wood and leaves. The festival beginsat sundown on Tishrei 14 and concludes an hourafter sundown on Tishrei 23. Work isprohibited on Tishrei 15 and 16, 22 and 23. Itis appropriate to accommodate inmate requeststo construct a sukkah and to allow inmates touse the sukkah for personal or group prayer,fellowship and study during the daylighthours. Inmates should also be authorized toeat a small morsel of matzo or bread in thesukkah, or to consume some of their mealsthere unless security concerns dictateotherwise. For security reasons, no inmatesshould be authorized to sleep in the sukkah.During the holyday season, some inmatesrequest furloughs in order to observe theholydays with loved ones. These are notspecifically religious furloughs, but socialfurloughs affording inmates the opportunityto be at home to celebrate with theirfamilies.#Yom KippurSukkotFurloughs11VOL. XII NO. 1ELUL 5767-TISHREI 5768 / FALL 200711