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As a community, we've long championed social issues. But we've been notoriously slow to address a critical issue within our own family — Jews in prison.

Today there are an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 Jewish inmates in the nation's prisons, according to the Aleph Institute, a Chabad-founded social service organization. Admittedly, out of a total of 1.5 million prisoners, Jews represent less than 1 percent. But they are a vulnerable minority.

Prisoners and those who work with them say that many inmates are afraid to identify themselves as Jews — for fear of reprisals from other inmates as well as from kitchen workers, guards and sometimes even chaplains.

Chaplaincy offices in state and federal prisons are almost always run by Protestant ministers, and not all of them are sensitive to Jewish issues.

It's not just about getting matzahs at Passover, kosher food or even kippot. It's about minority rights and respecting religious differences. And it's about increasing the presence of rabbis and Jewish counselors.

When we give Jewish prisoners the message that we as a community don't care about them, they are vulnerable to the messages of highly visible evangelical Christian groups, who are all too eager to "save" their souls.

Passover can be a difficult time. While Jews in prison may share seders and traditional foods, the holiday is a reminder that religious freedom is often denied to prisoners. And the prisoners themselves say they expect the Jewish community to do more than provide blessings and baskets.

Prisoners also need contemporary Jewish books. They need special events. They need friendly visits. They need help from our community in making the transition to civilian life. And they need to know we care.

We may not get our names on a plaque for helping prisoners and their families, but by rehabilitating those who seek atonement, we are engaging in one of Judaism's highest missions.