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.