Florida – The Department of Corrections agreed to serve kosher food to Jewish inmates, ending a five-year struggle that saw the US Justice Department file a lawsuit against the state.
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The Florida Department of Corrections eliminated its prison kosher food program in August, 2007, at which time an estimated 250 prisoners in Florida were enrolled in the meal program.
However, a Justice Department complaint filed last year accused Florida of impinging on the rights of Jewish inmates by failing to offer kosher food, citing a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 which protects prisoners’ freedom of worship.
The Chabad-Lubavitch Aleph Institute, which serves the interests of Jewish inmates and soldiers around the nation, praised Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s strong advocacy on behalf of the inmates.
“The Jewish community would like to thank governor Rick Scott profusely for arranging that kosher food will be available to Jewish inmates in Florida,” said Rabbi Menachem Katz of the Aleph Institute.
“This is a major milestone,” said Katz. “We want to thank the governor for understanding the importance of religious freedom in the United States of America.”
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
Aleph institute should be applauded for their tireless efforts on behalf of our incarcerated brethren. Although it makes us cringe that the people of the book have stooped to these levels, they are still our brothers and we can’t ignore them. Even if it makes us feel uncomfortable.
I should hope that the Jewish inmates are few in number.
To #2 - You should not be so naive; there are appoximately 6,500 Jewish inmates presently incarcerated in federal, state, and county jails, throughout the USA. Some of those inmates have been convicted of heinous crimes. However, no matter what they were convictdof, I agree that Jewish inmates, no matter what their level of observance is, have the right to request and receive kosher food.
I live in Miami,Florida and I am proud to have Rick Scott as our Governor. Er hot a gut harts. Bravo Gov. Scott for your help in securing kosher food . Let’s hope that in the future there will be no Jewish prisoners. Zol Hashem helfn.
While kosher food is the rights of every inmate,It should not be at the taxpayer’s expense. If the prison on spends $100 per prisoner on food they should not have to spend more on kosher. So if for example a standard inmate gets 3 meals a day fo $100 a week and now that $100 only buys 2 kosher meals a day so be it. States simply cannot afford to foot these extra expenses. Prisons are one of the most costly expenses in the US.
By the way I think those that really care about kosher will survive on those 2 meals.