Prison is no place for a frum Jew. 

It’s 6am and the bright lights turn on to wake up the inmates. Mordechai Freuchter* awakes and whispers “modeh ani” quietly,  terrified to begin another day.

Freuchter was wrongly accused of a crime months ago, and has since been awaiting his trial in jail. The trial is delayed because his family does not have the money they need for legal fees. Several prominent rabbis have vouched for Mordechai’s innocence, and expressed their horror that he remains in jail.

The young father of 5 walks down the prison hallway on the way to the cafeteria and a fellow inmate knocks his yarmulke off of his head. The inmates in the hallway laugh, taunting him.

“Where’s your friend Hashem now?,” they ask, pushing him against the wall.

It is a terrifying routine, and a far cry from the regular family life Mordechai led not long ago. The conditions in the prison are generally horrific, and being religious makes Freuchter into an obvious target. 

An urgent pidyon shvuyim fund has been opened to provide the family with the legal fees they need. Without this help, Mordechai could die in jail. 

*Name changed the protect the family’s privacy