Nevada – Inmate Sues over Prisons’ Decision to Stop Serving Kosher Food

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    Nevada – An Orthodox Jewish prisoner filed a class action lawsuit Wednesday that claims officials with the Nevada Department of Corrections are violating the First Amendment with their decision to end kosher food options for inmates.

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    “This is a matter that’s been well-litigated,” attorney Jacob Hafter said. “Nevada is clearly on the wrong side of the issue. And so we had to file suit because they won’t work with us.”

    Hafter represents Howard Ackerman, an inmate at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City. Ackerman’s lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. He claims the Department of Corrections is violating his First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.

    “I can’t respond because we are in litigation,” department spokesman Kevin Ingram said.

    Hafter said the department announced its decision to end kosher food options for prisoners in December. He said the decision does not only affect Orthodox Jews. Other prisoners, such as observant Muslims, also rely on a kosher diet to meet the requirements of their religions, the lawyer said.

    Ackerman, 50, was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in a kidnapping case.

    Hafter said he understands the views of those who say people should not commit crimes if they do not want to lose their rights.

    But, he responded, “Isn’t part of the purpose of being institutionalized to reform somebody?”

    “Judaism is a way of life,” he said. “We have laws that govern all of our actions … and no law is supposed to be more important than the other.”

    Read more at Las Vegas Review-Journal


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    22 Comments
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    shredready
    shredready
    12 years ago

    eat veggies and bread

    inquisativemindswanttoknow
    inquisativemindswanttoknow
    12 years ago

    what does torah say about kidnapping?

    ModernLakewoodGuy
    ModernLakewoodGuy
    12 years ago

    sorry, whatever crime you committed that landed you in prison means you have lost the privilege of keeping the mitzvos

    Aryeh
    Aryeh
    12 years ago

    You would have their neshama imprisoned as well as their body?

    DavidMoshe
    Active Member
    DavidMoshe
    12 years ago

    “Judaism is a way of life,” he said. “We have laws that govern all of our actions … and no law is supposed to be more important than the other.”

    True enough, I guess, but wouldn’t that mean that if you could be flexible about the laws against kidnapping people, you might also find a bit of wiggle room regarding the laws about not eating traif?

    rochel26
    rochel26
    12 years ago

    so would you say the same thing to SM Rubashkin? Also deny him kosher food? And tell him because he is in prison that he no longer deserves to be able to perform the mitzvos? Shame on you…..What narrow minded thinking……I think Jacob Hafter is a brilliant attorney and he is defending the rights of ALL Jews, not just those unfortunate few who are locked up.

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    12 years ago

    Sorry, but even the warden expects these Jews to follow the 10 commandments while in prison no matter how dumb please excuse my adjective) he could be!! Kosher food should be given — The prisoners are not asking for prime rib. They are asking for normal, edible, kosher food!! I do not see what the big deal is!! They probably give such garbage to the prisoners that the kosher food might be a little better!! That may pose a problem to prison officials. Maybe they ought to give the regular prisoners, EDIBLE FOOD!! That way there will not be any complaints!!

    MIESQ
    MIESQ
    12 years ago

    #17 Is somewhat correct Mr. Ackerman belongs to the state of Nevada. Being a prisoner does lose a person many of one’s civil rights. However, the ability to remain faithful to one’s religion is so personal so fundamental to one’s humanity that its denial breaks not just with one’s legal rights but with all norms of morality and decency.
    This is not a special treatment because one is Jewish et al rather it is an insistance on prison being more than a warehouse for human refuse. Certainly incarceration must be punative and serve as a deterent to society at large from committing offenses.
    However, actions such as denying inmates access to kosher food or similar needs serves only to brutalize inmates making their ability to participate in society any society even within prison or obey gaurds’ orders all the more difficult.

    12 years ago

    misnagdim live for the dina d’malchusa, after all its the only din that hey have!!!!!!!

    a yid in prison, even on death row is still a yid and we should strive to make sure that he can keep as much orah and mitzvos as possible