They came with all four: megillah reading, tefillin, charitable giving, and a festive meal. The Lubavitch Youth Organization brought the full Purim experience to Jewish inmates at Rikers Island, and participants called it overwhelmingly uplifting.
Organized by Rabbi Zalman Tevel and supported by prison chaplains, the program distributed tefillin while volunteers emphasized each inmate's inherent value. The megillah was read, Haman's defeat was celebrated, and coins were distributed for tzedakah.
A festive meal featured rolls, cold cuts, challah, and knishes. A magic performance and violin solo kept the atmosphere light and celebratory.
A Torah reading followed — a rare occurrence for the incarcerated population, and one that landed with particular weight. The afternoon concluded with communal singing of Ani Maamin.
One moment stood out above the rest. An inmate, when a volunteer offered a genuine embrace, said quietly: That makes me feel human again. The volunteers left that afternoon carrying it with them.
