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WHEREAS, the Aleph Institute is a non-profit, Jewish religious, educational, humanitarian organization offering a multitude of services to Jewish men and women who are incarcerated and to Jewish children and adults whose parents, spouses or children are incarcerated; and,
WHEREAS, the Aleph Institute offers support and assistance to Jewish families while providing opportunities for the prisoners to become responsible, productive and socialized citizens of our community. They do this through prison visitations, classes and counseling and through a mentoring program for re-entry, job placement and transition ,all designed to break the cycle that leads their children down the same path ; and,
WHEREAS, the Aleph Institute volunteers commit themselves to numerous acts of kindness through their work in the Institute's programs which helps a population of Jews who are virtually forgotten by traditional Jewish organizations ; and,
WHEREAS, designating an Acts of Kindness Week around the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av, which notes the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem as well as the more modern catastrophes befallen the Jewish people, is a way to honor these volunteers and encourage others to join the Aleph Institute to help Jewish prisoners and their families; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the Aleph Institute for its important work on behalf of Jewish prisoners and their families and congratulates the Aleph Institute for promoting the weeks leading up to Tisha B'Av as one of renewal and rebuilding the world through Acts of Kindness ; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, , that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare July 9 through July 16, 2013, to be "ALEPH INSTITUTE ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK" in the City of Pittsburgh.