Some time ago, I heard an interview on the 18Forty podcast where Rabbi Bashevkin interviewed someone who had been convicted of a white collar crime, and they discussed what this man learned from the experience. Part of the story revolved around the man’s experience at a prison in upstate New York where there is a large Jewish population, and, interestingly, a robust Jewish life: daf yomi, nigunim on Shabbos, minyanim, and more. The Prison Minyan, by Jonathan Stone, uses this real-life prison as the jumping off point for a fictional story that takes place inside the prison.
The book is informally divided into two parts. In the first, we get to know the men in the prison. This includes the background of why they were sent to prison and motivations for the crimes they committed; group learning discussions with the Rabbi about free will and teshuvah (i.e. Could the men have done otherwise? What motivated their transgressive behaviors in the first place?); and a general witty banter that is stereotypically Jewish. We also get to know one of the prison guards who plays a bigger role in the second half of the story. This part was enjoyable and sometimes funny, with short moments of insight, and loveable (despite their criminal) characters.
The second half of the book is the ‘story’ part of the book that is framed when a new warden takes over the prison, and a new inmate (modeled on Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s lawyer) – both upend the comfortable status quo. Saying too much more would give away the pleasure of reading the book, but most deeply it’s about identity, teshuva, and the kind of choices we make. It points to an interesting question: that the very same character traits that led these men into prison, that made them different, are the very one’s that can be utilized for the good.
While the characters are for the most part one-dimensional, thus allowing the narrative to carry the weight of the book, there are moments of depth. The result is a good story with enough depth for it not to feel like a beach read (though I’ll admit, I’ve never read a beach read – just using my imagination), and worth recommending.
Just Because I Liked It:
- For $7 I picked up a collection of the Slonimer Rebbe’s diveri Torah on the Yamim Noraim. I can’t believe what I got for $7! I try to always find something to inspire me on these awesome days, and this totally did the trick.