Satmar Rebbe Visits New York Prison to Support Jewish Inmates

The Satmar Rebbe made a special and emotional visit to Shawangunk prison in northern New York to uplift Jewish inmates held there. The visit was arranged after prolonged efforts by Hasidic activists coordinating with prison authorities and commissioners. Initially intended to see a single Satmar Hasid serving a sentence, the visit was expanded to include meetings with all Jewish prisoners at the facility.

Arriving from his vacation in Swan Lake, the Rebbe spent significant time at the prison, holding discussions in the facility’s conference room. He listened to the inmates’ hardships, offered personal guidance, words of encouragement, and blessings. During his stay, he also met with the prison warden and the officer responsible for the Jewish inmate section, advocating for improved conditions and easing religious and daily needs.

Due to strict U.S. prison security protocols, photos and recordings from inside the prison undergo extensive security checks and are typically released only after a delay of a week or more. After concluding the prison visit, the Rebbe traveled to Kiryas Joel in Monroe to visit his late mother’s grave on her recent yahrzeit and participated in several community celebrations there.