Email From the inmates at Ft Dix Re: Tu Bishvat

17 Shevat 5772-Feb 9th 2012- BY: Yossi Shereshevsky

I went to sleep Tuesday night and had a dream. When I woke up, we had, thanks to Askunim, the most beautiful display of all kinds of fruits, that were spread out in the Bais Medrash, so we could make Shehecheyanu. The fruits were tantalizingly delicious. The past 3 years at the other institution I was at, the jail made sure we had Shehecheyanu, but not to the quality of this years.
This was Mamish a Kiddush Ha-shem as all the non frum Jews who never even heard of Tu Beshvat were able now to participate in learning the Minhagim of Klal Yisroel which are "KULO KODOSH" and what Rosh Hashono Lueilonos is, and what Birkas Shehecheyanu is. And we saw the pictures of previous years of the "Tischen" that Askunim provided, so we can at least be there in our minds. Mamish "Veuhavta Lerayacho Komocho was Mekuyim. What a Kiddush Ha-shem.

It was awesome. Even the people who never come to Mincha, came, because they heard about the fruit platter. We had Parmagerants, and star fruit, dates and figs, sabras, and other specialties. People that never put on Tefillin before, came and saw the display, and while they were there they put on Tefillin. And then I was asked to get up to speak and to give a short description of the holiday and to give Hakoras Hatov to Askunim for supplying and working toward this event.

And then. And then. And then.

And then, as I got up to speak and I started to say the first word, I got up again. And I realized that I dreamt what should of been. And as the day went on and they DIDN'T called us to the Chapel, I realized that they weren't going to, I realized that at least in my dreams I made a Shehecheyanu. And I dreamt about the Kiddush Ha-shem that could of been. And then I started to pray that G-D should forgive all those who knew for themselves to go to the Big Rebbes, and their Tischen and get Shehecheyanu for themselves and their families, but forgot about their brothers in Ft. Dix and their families.

And I called a meeting of all the Jews in Ft. Dix, and together we forgave all these Jews that forgot about us. And together we made a Shehecheyanu on the Brocho of forgiveness. And the Rabbi found some dates in the Moslem Community so we could at least be a shtikel Yotzeh with that. And we each had between 1/2 a date and a whole one.

Yes my brothers. We forgive you. Hearty appetite.

And I will say one other thing. That the Birkas Shehecheyanu that we made with the dates that Rabbi Samet miracously found had more Holiness to it, than any of the beautiful displays of all the big Tischen put together. And all of you should be eating from our Shirayim. But like I said we forgive you.

Yossi Shereshevsky
Rosh Kolel Maharam M'rutenberg
Commentary by: Yaakov Alter ben Shifra Tsharna

It should be noted, in regard to the issue of Tu B'Shvat celebrations in jail, we all know that we live in a supposed "Malchus Shel Chesed", where we have Freedom of Religion, even in jail. More or less, any tradition from any religion, which is recognized by their religion, is recognized by the BOP - at least to a minimum extent. The only reason why Tu B'Shvat isn't recognized by the BOP, is because the Askanim haven't done anything for this. If the askanim would bring this to the BOP and Washington DC, that Tu B'Shvat is a holiday and tradition which is necessary for us, there is no question we'd have it. Maybe the askanim don't see this holiday as so important, or maybe they don't feel they can be successful with it.

I'm 100% certain that no Shomrei Torah u'mitzvos will dispute this. Here in the BOP they have about 16-17 different recognized religious groups. Each of the groups has their customs and traditions which they follow. The BOP to some degree, more or less, gives to each religion their basic needs. But everyone can agree that all of the Jewish traditions are 1000 times more important to us than all the other religions. Because all of their traditions and customs have been made by human beings in the past 2000 years and most have been derived from ours; but ours are commanded directly by Hashem. So every tradition we have, we're obligated to fulfill, and the BOP will provide them if the right advocates will lobby for this.

So basically, I don't think we have to blame the BOP for this, but rather we must make certain that our Askanim take care of this for us. There's no question that providing for us to have the opportunity to have the fruits and make shehechiyanu is a great mitzvah, and part of Pidyon Shvuyim.

Please take in mind the following mitzvos that we would fulfill:
1) to fulfill the custom/tradition of making shehechiyanu on a pri ha'etz
2) to feed hungry people who have no other opportunity to have the fruits, and now they have this opportunity to have this kind of food, and bring them simchas Yom Tov in addition. Some people are in prison here for many years (even decades), and haven't had the opportunity to eat most of these fruits in so long which other people on the street take for granted.

3) if this opportunity were available, more people would come to fulfill the mitzvah, daven, put on tefillin, etc.

4) people who wouldn't know about the custom, would now have the opportunity to learn

5) during the time of being in the Chapel, the people wouldn't need be in the atmosphere of tumah of the compound

6) many other reasons

Each of the reasons mentioned above is enough reason for the askanim to establish at BOP Headquarters that Tu B'Shvat is a Jewish Custom to fulfill, and to establish that it be provided for in jails and prisons throughout the nation.

I hope that someone will pay attention and advocate for this, among many other needs we need here. As I've mentioned before, I believe everyone would agree with the above; if anyone disagrees, please explain why not. In the meantime, we have fulfilled Tu B'Shvat this year as the Rosh HaKollel shlita has explained. Hashem should send a full yeshia for us and alle Yidden in gichen.

Please forward to whomever you can and whomever you know. And if you have any suggestions, send the comments.

Thank You,
The Jewish Community of Fort Dix

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