Danny Raskin's
I On the Record
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
LISTENING
**MI
wax.s.ssoma
A BIT OF disa 'n data . . .
while visiting Jackson State
Prison to attend Passover seder
and services for Jewish inmates.
57 ACRES WITHIN the mas-
sive walls make up the largest
prison in the world . .. with so
many cells that it would take
an inmate 17 years to occupy
each one . . . ( anybody want to
volunteer to find out for them-
selves?) . . . 25,000 towns in the
United States have populations
smaller than that of Jackson
Prison . . . Over 6,000 inmates
live here . . going about their
daily routine in an orderly fash-
ion that is a distinct credit to
the much planned efficiency_
and capability of our prison sys-
tem and the men behind it . .
Warden Wm. H. Bannan and his
officials continue to do a mas-
terful job here at Jackson . . .
and it doesn't go by unrecog-
nized . . Over 18,000 meals are
served every day from the huge
ballroom-like kitchen . At
mealtime, three shifts of prison-
ers served at a time.
OF THE 6,000 inmates at
Jackson State Prison, 50 are
Jewish . . All told, there are
61 Jewish prisoners in Mich-
igan state prisons . . . Five at
Marquette, three at Ionia and
one each at Plymouth (House of
Correction), Cassidy Lake and
Camp Pontiac . • As a compli-
ment to Jewish womanhood, as
of this writing, there isn't a
single Jewish gal in any of the
state prisons. -
THE JEWISH inmates seem
to have a realistic approach to
their confinement .. . None was
involved in any way during the
riot at Jackson . A great
many of them do not think only
of their own problems, but have
an alert interest in Jewish prob-
lems in general . . and al-
though they are isolated from
the world outside, show an evi-
dent concern for goings-on on
the other side of the walls . . .
RABBI JOSHUA SPERKA,
Jewish chaplain for Michigan
state prisons, conducted the se-
der as he does each year . .
and in speaking on "Freedom
For What" to the inmates, dis-
cussed the idea that individuals
and nations who are enslaved
wanted to be freed for some-
thing, rather than from some-
thing.
CANTOR NICHOLAS FENA-
KEL assisted Rabbi Sperka with
great approval from the inmates
. . He told the prisoners that
he had spent four and a half
years in prison in Germany, and
a half year in Russia .. . Cantor
Fenakel only recently became a
United States citizen.
RABBI SPERKi. and Cantor
Fenakel both wore white robes
. and everyone was furnished
with yarmelke, hagadah and
printed program with the order
of the seder . . . Rabbi Sperka
explained the many details of
the seder, and Cantor Fenakel
sang the Kiddush, hymns and
other seder selections . . A
delicious Passover dinner was
served, with everything except
wine, which is not allowed there.
WARDEN BANNEN, Dr. N.
Shear, chief physician, and Ja-
cob Stein psychologist, were
among the 10 prison officials
who attended . . From Detroit
were Morris Wasserman, Abe
Kotzen, Al Farber, Al Rosenberg,
Irving Goldstein, P. Zack, who
catered the dinner, Al Kauf-
man, Lansing correspondent for
the Detroit Times, and this
writer.
WHEN THE SEDER was ended
after the singing of the "Star
Spangled Banner" and "Hatik-
vah," one of the inmates came
over to Rabbi Sperka and said,
(Copyright, 1955, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate)
About Mormons
I confess little knowledge of the church in general and of the
Mormon church in particular. I am therefore particularly
indebted to Rabbi Israel Goldstein, for letting me share with my
readers his following letter, addressed to David 0. McKay, presi-
dent of the Mormon Church, to U. S. Senators Watkins and Ben-
nett of Utah and to Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Benson.
"The occasion of the 125th . anniversary of the Mormon
Church in America must stir in the hearts of many Americans
of all faiths a renewed sense of admiration of the many qualities
of religious and civic dedication which have characterized the
founders and the disciples of the Mormon Church.
"May I express, as American Jew and a lifelong Zionist, my
deep appreciation of the encouragement given by your Church
and its leaders from the beginning to the ideal of Zion's restora-
tion? We have reason to recall this record with admiration and
gratitude.
"The Mormon Church, from its beginning in the United
States in 1830, included among its articles of faith the belief in
the literal restoration of Israel to the Holy Land, though its
motivation was Christian, regarding it as a necessary prelude to
the second coming of Christ. Its founder, Joseph Smith, who
regarded this event as imminent in the near future, exhorted his
disciple, Orson Hyde, to go to Jerusalem in order to facilitate that
fulfillment. In 1840, a Conference of the Mormon Church author-
ized Hyde to proceed, and on the way to the Holy Land to consult
Christian and Jewish leaders abroad, resolving, at the same time,
to lay this matter before the American people. Among the letters
of recommendation he took with him was one from the U. S.
Secretary of State and one from the Governor of Illinois. In a
conversation with a missionary in Jerusalem, Hyde said, "It was
by a political power and influence that the Jewish nation was
broken down, and her subjects dispersed abroad; and I will here
hazard the opinion that by political power and influehce, they
will be gathered and built up." He considered England to be des-
tined for the leading role in the realization of this aim. And,
incidentally, he condemned the negative attitude of the wealthy
Jews of his time. Erecting an altar of stones in Jerusalem in the
manner of the Patriachs, he prayed for the return of the Jewish
dispersion to the land of their fathers, the restoration of the
kingdom of Israel, and the establishment of Jerusalem as its
capital. I quote from his prayer: "Constitute her people as a
distinct nation and government." That his mission did not
succeed, does not detract from its significance in the annals of
American Zionist history.
"Biblical prophecy has been fulfilled in our day, thank God,
in the establishment of the State of Israel. The American people
and government have played no small part in the glorious chapter
of fulfillment. Among its most stalwart advocates have been
leaders of the Mormon Church. It was •my privilege to have
known the late Senator King, who was greatly helpful among
those who helped to mold a favorable American public opinion.
"Please accept my compliments and good wishes for your
continued growth and progress, sentiments which, I am sure, are
'shared by many Americans, Jews and Christians alike."
Confusing Novel About Palestirie
Victor Rine, American, edu-
cated at Harvard and other uni-
versities, including Berlin, joined
the Jewish Legion in World War
and in his journalistic efforts
in Palestine risked four courts
martial. He married a Syrian
girl and they now live with their
two children in Newton, N. H.
His experiences in the Holy
Land, his deep interest in the
Middle East — as a Jew who
fought in that area and as the
husband of an Arab—have led
him to make a deep study of the
situation and he has written a
book, "In the Path of the
Winds," (published by Pageant
Press, 130 W. 42nd, NY 36) in
which he offers his solution to
the existing problem.
He is very critical of the Bri-
tish — he speaks of the Law-
rence - Allenby hoax. He de-
nounces the paradoxes created
by the English. He uses as the
basis for his solution a plan he
attributes to Feisal: the idea of
a federation between Jews and
Arabs, in a land without boun-
daries.
In view of what has happened
in that area in the last decade;
considering the proposals that
were made to the Arabs before
the rebirth of Israel—for a bi-
national state of Arabs and Jews
—and the refusal of the Arabs
to deal with the Zionists, then
the Rine theme sounds fantastic.
The author of this novel appears
confused. He has an idea that
was acceptable in its day to
many Jews. Today it is utterly
unrealistic. How can one speak,
as Rine does, of a "union of the
two races in the larger sense of
union or federation," when the
entire area is in a state of war?
It is difficult to read "In the
Path of the Winds" without
keeping reality in view: and the
author emerges unrealistic. His
experiences should have led him
to a better recognition of many
facts he seems to ignore in his
analysis.
Awry
Jews in Curacao
Lauded by Dutch
On Tercentenary
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, (JTA)
—The population of this Dutch
island of Curacao is paying
tribute to the small group of
Jewish families residing here, in
connection with the completion
of 300 years of Jewish settle-
ment on the island. The Dutch
section of the population especi-
ally emphasizes the important
contributions which these Jew-
ish families and their ancestors
have made to the development
of the island.
The Jewish congregation of
the island—Congregation Mikveh
Israel—is considered the oldest
in the Western Hemisphere. It
was founded here in 1654 by a
group of Sephardic Jews whom
the Portuguese expelled from
Recife, Brazil. The first syna-
gogue on the island was built
by Congregation Mikveh Israel
in 1732 and remains in use to
this day. The congregation was
instrumental in building the first
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-21
synagogue in New York with a
contribution of funds to Shearith
Jaacob, now known as Congre-
gation Shearith Israel, the oldest
in the United States.
▪ "WHATEVER LOLA
Z WANTS, LOLA GETS"
•
• AND-SHE
♦ WANTS
♦SAMMY
♦wool"
*And His Band
•
:TE. 4-7730 or WE. 4-0879
+++••••••••••••••••oo+44.
Northland
DRIVER TRAINING
•
•
•
•
•
AAA Driver Training Graduate
Public School Teachers and
Police Officers Available
Dual-Control Training Cars
Full Hour Lessons
Free Pick-Up and Return
We Serve Dexter and
6-Mile as Well as Suburbs.
SAUL H. SINKOFF
Friday, April 22, 1955
U. 7-3313
Week-ends and Evenings included
Treat MOTHER to a fine Kosher Meal
(In the RAINBOW manner) an HER DAY
SUNDAY, MAY . 8th!
The beautiful new
RAINBOW TERRACE
Located at
18451 WYOMING
IS NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS
FOR DINNER ON MOTHER'S DAY
Varied Menu to Choose From
For Information and Reservations
UN. 3-4361
UN. 2-9851
WHERE TO DINE
BOESKY'S SID'S CAFE
ALWAYS THE FINEST—
DINING, DANCING, ENTERTAINMENT. Complete dinners,
luncheons. After-Theater dining. Sunday dinners from 12 noon.
We .Cater to Parties and Banquets
15241 E. Warren at Barham TU. 2-3883
On the 4ir
For An Early Breakfast or Midnight Snack.
For a Light Lunch or Complete Dinner Stop• At
This Week's Radio and
Television Programs
of Jewish Interest
STAFFORD'S
THE ETERNAL LIGHT
BUDDY'S BAR-B-Q
Time: 12:30 p.m., Sunday.
Station : WWJ.
Feature: "Four Hours to Mid
night," the story of Mickey Mar-
cus, a West Point graduate who
gave his life defending Israel,
will be told.
* * *
Ad COMMITTEE BROADCAST
FINE FOODS
8333 LINWOOD
.TR.
2-8500
and Delivery
Take O ut
Service Our Specialty . . . Ribs & Chicken right off the fire.
Open 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., Sunday I p.m. to 4 a.m.
Cor. 12th & Clair/noun.
AL GREEN'S
tAince
CHOP
HOUSE
15301 E. Jefferson, at Beaconsfield
VA. 2-4118
Luncheons 11 to 3 — Dinners 5 to
10:30. Suppers 14:30 to 2 a.ns.
ee pianrgk rtTieEs..
tzt0a2n0qu
GRAND RIVER. Fr wedc
GellA
2441)rtinPgr wtaire •
Room s
World's Finest Steaks, Chops and Sea Foods for more
than 26 years. All Beef aged In our own cellars.
Time: 1:30 p.m., Tuesday.
Station: WWJ.
Feature: "You Hold the Key ROBIN HOOD'S serving the finest and most delicious of foods,
to Human Rights," a how-to-do Steaks, Chops, Chicken Club Sandwiches. Short Orders. Delicious
UN. 1-9802
presentation of a. human rights Hamburgers. "Served as you like it."
program in action, will conclude 20176 LIVERNOIS AVE., 1% Blks. So. 8 Mile Rd. Open 24 Hours
the four-broadcast series co-
sponsored by the American Jew-
MARIA'S PIZZERIA
•
ish Committee and the National
Specializing in Pizza Pie and Famous Italian Foods
Broadcasting Company.
Air-Conditioned . . . Parking Facilities . . • Carry Out Service
* * *
7107
PURITAN . . . Open 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. . . UN. 1-3929
ALTMAN'S JEWISH HOUR
Time: 11:15 a.m., Sunday.
18246 WYOMING at Curtis
Station: WJLB.
UNIVERSITY 2-2520
Feature: A special script has
Italian-American Dish Our Specialty
been • prepared in conjunction Complete Dinners Served from 5 So 11 p.m.
Carry-Out Service
with the community-wide cele-
Hours: Open weekdays, Tues., Wed., Thurs., 11:30 a.m. to 12 midnight;
bration of Israel Independence
Fri., Sat., 11:30 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Closed Monday.
Day to be observed April 30, in
the auditorium of Mumford
SAVOIA RESTAURANT
High School. Both programs are
Chicken, Steaks, Frog Legs, Dinners, Spaghetti & Ravioli;
Full Course Dinner: $1.50 up
trouble to make a complete and under the sponsorship of the We Cater to Families and Parties
UN. 2-9775
Open Sun.
15508 Livernois
beautiful seder from beginning Jewish Community Council's
to end, even bringing all the Culture Commission.
TR. 2-8800
CLAM SHOP and BAR
symbols and rituals of seder, but
DR. ISAAC GOLDBERG, 41-
Serving: Oysters, Clams, LOBSTERS, Steaks and Assorted Sea Foods
you forget one of the most im-
portant things!' . . . In wonder- year-old attorney, has been Music by Muzak
2675 E. GRAND BLVD.
ment, Rabbi Sperka asked what elected chairman of the Zionist
For 23 yrs., U808 WOODWARD, across from Big Bear.
it was . . . and the inmate said, Central Council of Argentina to Ty
FINE
D
for Chickens,
di n ner c) p oRno a; tr. 0 niB ete2f, , 0 Steaks.
s
week i
Serving
Fam o s
luncheons
and
to
P.M. weekly ,
"Why didn't you open the door succeed Isaac Arcavi, who emi-
"Rabbi, you go through so much —for Elijah to come in?"
1/PP PIZZERIA
ER , F
grated to
except Monday.