Torah from the Inside Out: Cohort for Incarcerated People and Allies

In collaboration with Matir Asurim: Jewish Care Network for Incarcerated People, Shel Maala is excited to announce "Torah from the Inside Out," a six-month learning cohort centering incarcerated people, their penpals, and allies. Our learning will focus on ritual practices, halakha, and prayer in prison. Some of the questions we may encounter include: What do the stories of Joseph and Akiva teach us about ritual innovation, and how does that connect us in the present to building abolitionist Torah? What can halacha look like when practiced within the carceral system? How do we build liberatory Jewish learning spaces while encountering the injustice and bureaucracy of the carceral system?

This six-month, experimental cohort will meet 1x monthly, every THIRD WEDNESDAY, beginning March 19th, from 7-8:30pm EST.

Tentative dates:

Weds March 19th (Intro session, no prep required)

Weds Apr 16th (middle day of Passover)

Weds May 21st

Weds June 18th

Weds July 16th

Weds Aug 20th

Weds Sep 17th

Who this is for: this experimental course is centered on learning with incarcerated people and their penpals, but is also open to anyone interested in learning through an abolitionist lens. No prior knowledge of Hebrew is needed, as all texts will be provided in translation.