Dear friends and family,

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you for all your messages of love and support. Your words, photos and videos have carried me day in and day out. I would also like to apologize for taking so long to write back to most of you, these past 3 months have been hard on me. 

 

Most of the other inmates have 1-3 people on their Jpay account. It absolutely blows my mind that more than 56 of you have taken the time and effort to download the Jpay app, locate me using my prison ID number, added your credit card info and spent your hard earned money during these economically difficult times to send me messages, photos and videos of encouragement. Wow! I feel lucky, honored and blessed to be a part of such a strong support network. Our community is really something special.

 

I'd also like to take this opportunity to give you all a general update about my state of affairs in here. As you already know, these past 3 months have been anything but smooth sailing. prison is no joke -- never in a million years did I ever imagine myself as an inmate stuck in quarantine lockdown at a State Prison. However, thanks to all of your love and support as well as Hashem's omnipresent protection, I am in good health and in one piece (not to mention roughly 25 pounds heavier). despite the troubles that are outside our control, as clearly exemplified by the current Corona Virus Pandemic, it is comforting to know that there is something we CAN ALWAYS control: our attitude in spite of our circumstances -- as coveyed beautifully by Viktor Frankl in his "Man's Search For Meaning". For that simple reason I choose to be grateful and optimistic about the transient nature of my current predicament.

 

That brings me to my next point. My earliest Prison Release Date is August 9th, 2022. right around the corner, right? not so much... but 2022 feels like tomorrow compared to my acquaintance LJ (I say acquaintance because there's no such thing as friends in prison -- I've learned this the hard way) who has already served 36 years of his two life sentences plus 99 years without parole. Perspective really is everything.

 

Over the course of the past couple weeks I developed a unique bond with another inmate named Nick, who like me, has had a rollercoaster of a life and is now on a spiritual road to redemption. We constantly find ourselves discussing topics ranging from Alan Watts, Judaism, Buddhism, purpose, meaning and exchanging wild stories -- our unfiltered, reeling highs, our depressing, gut-wrenching lows and everything in between. The best thing that I have accomplished so far in prison is inspiring Nick, to put pen to paper to start writing his book. As many of you know I am a math, physics and science type of guy -- reading and writing not so much. Although I have always loved leisure reading, fiction and non-fiction alike, and I can piece together a decent essay if I absolutely have to, the thought of writing a book sounds less appetizing than a plate of broken glass and rusty nails. 

 

However, in the process of inspiring Nick to begin compiling his life's stories and resulting spiritual growth into a book, Nick has inspired me to do the same. And so, I have begun to write my first book. So far I'm surprisingly loving my 15-minute to 1-hour long stream of consciousness writing sessions while locked up in my nasty cell during our daily head counts peppered throughout our days. 

 

My book will chronicle the ups and downs of my short life thus far and the lessons learned as a result. I am still playing with a title for the book but so far my favorite is "Dad Went to Yale, I Went to Jail". I would love to hear any suggestions/ideas.

 

What am I trying to accomplish by writing and sharing my story? What message am I trying to convey? A wise man once said, if you want to change the world, change yourself. My goal is simple: to show you that if I can overcome my current literal PRISON BARS and figurative mental (bipolar) and physical (meningits, obesity, high cholesterol, multiple injury related surgeries) PRISON BARS in order to find internal and external Freedumb™, then you can overcome ANY barrier that may seem to be holding you back from feeling fundamental Freedumb™ too. If I can affect meaningful positive change in myself in order to inspire you to follow suit, thus causing you to inspire others in a way that leads to those others inspiring further iterations of people then we will essentially be creating an exponential snowballing effect of meaningful positive change. Together we can truly change the world for the better.

 

Anyways, thanks again for your unconditional love and support. Stay safe and healthy, wishing you all the best during these turbulent times for us all. shabat shalom.

 

love

jo