The Hebrew month of Iyar celebrates Pesach Sheni, the second opportunity for those who missed the Paschal sacrifice at the Temple. Rabbi Mendel Katz, director of the Aleph Institute, understands a great deal about Jews who need a second chance.

Now in its eighteenth year of serving Jewish inmates across the US, the inter-prison Jewish chaplaincy program was established on the instructions of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory. The Rebbe noted that only one letter - Aleph - differentiates between the word for "imprisonment" -- gola -- and "redemption" -- geula. No Jew, regardless of the depths he has descended to, should ever be forsaken by the community. Everyone deserves another chance to mend their ways.

In the past eighteen years, Aleph has grown to become a leading agency serving needy families and individuals of all backgrounds. Rabbi Katz and his staff regularly visit and correspond with the 7,000 Jewish prisoners serving time in American penitentiaries and correctional facilities. The Aleph Institute provides educational materials to prisoners and conducts religious services in the prisons. Institute legal staff confront anti-Semitism behind bars and assist Jewish inmates with family matters.

"The message that we bring the inmate is that he is Jewish just like us, and despite the mistakes he has made, he must not feel shunned from his people," says Rabbi Katz. "Jewish inmates have in us someone on the outside that they can turn to with their problems.

"Even if they are currently down on their luck and locked away, prisoners are encourage to understand that everyone needs a second chance, to start all over again."