New Jewish Prayer Book Launches on Rikers Island

RIKERS ISLAND, NY (06/26/2025) (readMedia)-- Last Wednesday, the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform, a project of the Jewish Community Relations Council of NY (JCRC-NY), launched a first-of-its-kind Jewish prayer book (siddur), The Very Narrow Bridge, exclusively for people incarcerated at Rikers. During the launch event, incarcerated congregants engaged in a meaningful text-study of the brand new siddur led by Chaplain Rabbi Mia Simring. The text-study was followed by remarks from First Deputy Commissioner Frances Torres.

PHOTOS OF THE LAUNCH EVENT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

The siddur is the culmination of a Coalition project funded by JCRC-NY, the Revson Foundation, the NY Board of Rabbis and Central Synagogue, developed in collaboration with Department of Corrections (DOC) Chaplains Rabbi Simring and Rabbi Kretzmer-Seed. It features meditations and poems by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, along with Hebrew, English, Russian, and Ladino prayers. The title The Very Narrow Bridge stems from the Hebrew song "Kol HaOlam Kulo Gesher Tzar Me'od", which provides a powerful message to readers not to be afraid in the face of life's uncertainties and challenges, and symbolizes the literal bridge that separates Rikers Island from the rest of New York City. The siddur offers an accessible, personalized resource for connection, reflection, and hope. It also offers congregants a thoughtfully designed, permanent book to study from, replacing the simple printed packets previously used during services.

"With the launch of this siddur, people in custody at Rikers of all faiths and backgrounds will be able to engage with Judaism in a new way that's tailored to their specific emotional and spiritual needs," said Cynthia Johnson, director of the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform. "The Coalition and its volunteers have been working with incarcerated individuals for years to celebrate holidays, offer spiritual guidance, and provide a consistent community presence. This project highlights our essential work together, and we hope that The Very Narrow Bridge will serve as a catalyst for an edition available to the general public that can be used by Jewish Chaplains and incarcerated people nationwide. Thank you to the DOC for all of their support in helping this project and today's event come to fruition."

"This siddur is a powerful testament to the work of the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform, a proud project of JCRC-NY," said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. "The Coalition has shown up with compassion and consistency for incarcerated New Yorkers - a reflection of their deep commitment to criminal justice reform and to our Jewish community's role in helping build a more just, interconnected New York for all. We're honored to support their work and grateful to the Department of Corrections for helping facilitate this initiative."

"Faith unites us with our community no matter where we are," said DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. "The Very Narrow Bridge is a testament to this Department's commitment and dedication to upholding detainees' spiritual rights and providing them with meaningful resources that meet them where they are. We are proud to be the home for this unique and deeply meaningful initiative and thankful to the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform for developing a siddur that will provide comfort, guidance, and wisdom for years to come."

"The transformation I've experienced is nothing short of miraculous, a testament to the power of the Jewish tradition and the unwavering compassion of those who live its values. It's why I felt compelled to contribute to our siddur, to add a page that reflects the profound shift within me. My hope is that it serves as a beacon of positive, uplifting, and inspirational thought for anyone who opens its pages, a reminder of the powerful and awesome capacity for renewal that lies within each of us. My story is just one example of the incredible impact our community and our faith can have. It reminds us that no matter how far we may stray, there is always a way back, a path to redemption, and the unwavering embrace of a tradition that offers healing and hope," said Miguel Martinez, a contributor for The Very Narrow Bridge who was formerly incarcerated at Rikers.

"This siddur is both meaningful and accessible to a broad swath of people - from Orthodox to secular, from people from insular Jewish communities to unaffiliated Jews - to people who have lived adjacent to Jewish communities people who are learning about Judaism for the first time, or even meeting Jews for the first time. They are people trying to find their way in the world. When we see the people on Rikers, when we offer support in any way, we affirm their humanity. We are binding these words as a sign to them - you are worthy, you are deserving, you are loved, and you belong," said Rabbi Mia Simring.

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About the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform: The New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform, a project of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York that includes 31 member organizations. The organization is committed to educating and activating the Jewish community to advocate for a criminal justice reform agenda in New York and to reimagine public safety for all communities. It recognizes the need for systemic change to a discriminatory system rooted in racism that denies equal justice to all under the law.

About JCRC-NY: JCRC-NY, a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body with a mission to build relationships to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.