Jewish inmates in the New York State prison system will be able to observe fasting restrictions for Yom Kippur, it was announced today by Corrections Commissioner Richard Hongisto.
“Jewish inmates will be able to receive two large meals before the Yom Kippur fast begins at sundown Tuesday and a large meal after sundown Wednesday following the religious fast, “Hongisto said. He said the special meals were arranged following a request by Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe; Gov. Hugh Carey and Assembly Speaker Stanley Steingut after the three had met Saturday night.
“The Department of Corrections is continuously sensitive to the structure of religious standards observed by inmates in the system,” the Commissioner said. “It is not out of the norm for the department to arrange for such standards to be met without interruption of the department’s daily routine.”
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