The Aleph Institute, headquartered in Surfside, Florida, is a Chabad-affiliated organization founded in 1981 to serve the religious, emotional, and practical needs of Jews in institutional settings. Its core mission encompasses supporting incarcerated individuals, military personnel, and their families, with a strong emphasis on preserving Jewish identity and dignity in challenging environments.

Aleph’s prison programs include regular rabbinical visits, Torah study, and the provision of religious materials such as tefillin, kosher food, and holiday supplies. The organization also advocates for inmates’ religious rights and facilitates compassionate release and clemency efforts. Reentry services offer job placement assistance, housing support, and life skills training, helping former inmates reintegrate into society while maintaining their Jewish observance.

For Jewish members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Aleph provides spiritual support through chaplaincy services, holiday packages, and moral guidance. The organization also works with military leadership to ensure that Jewish service members can observe religious practices, even while deployed.

Aleph’s family services extend to those with loved ones in prison or the military, offering emotional counseling, financial aid, and programs like Project Shifra, which connects families to resources for managing stress, legal aid, and household needs. The institute also runs alternative sentencing programs, advocating for rehabilitative justice models that allow nonviolent offenders to remain with their families while engaging in structured moral and educational development.