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Rabbi David Nelson of Congregation Beth Shalom removes the Torah from
the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility in Jackson with the assistance
of Dave Burnett of Lansing and Chaplain David Leach of Jackson.
Torah Freed
It began with a simple phone call.
"Rabbi, we're closing the Southern Michigan Correctional Center as part of the
size reduction of Jackson prison. Is there anything special we need to do to move
the Torah scroll that has been located in an ark there to a new site?"
That began the odyssey.
Special preparations had to be made. Chaplain David Leach, who had coordi-
nated the move, had to release the Torah from the closing facility. Transporting
the ark was easy, but the Torah had to wrapped in a tallit (prayer shawl) and car-
ried in a procession to its new home with a chuppah as part of the noteworthy
celebration.
Easily said. Challenging to do in a prison setting.
The fact that Warden Sherry Burt and Dave Burnett, special activities coordi-
nator for the Michigan Department of Corrections, participated made the impos-
sible happen on Thursday, July 12.
At a gathering of the 15 men who study at a weekly Torah class taught by
volunteers, Rabbi David Nelson, emeritus rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in
Oak Park, gave some explanation and commentary, then led songs and dancing.
Afterward, the Torah donated about 40 years ago for use in the prison was trans-
ferred safely and easily to its new home in an adjacent building.
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Berkley To Vote On Creche
A Christian group seeking a November vote in Berkley to force city council to
resume placing a Nativity scene in front of city hall has turned in nearly double
the number of signatures required.
Berkley Citizens Vote Yes to Christmas Holiday Display needed 580 signatures
of Berkley residents. The group last week turned in petitions with 922 signa-
tures. Group spokeswoman Georgia Halloran said her group includes members
from many Christian denominations.
Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union challenged Berkley's annual holi-
day display, saying it did not meet U.S. Supreme Court guidelines that require
other religious symbols and secular elements. Halloran said for many years the
city included a Star of David on the city hall wall behind the display.
Many Christian clergy sided with the Berkley city council on removing the
display, saying its religious symbolism should not be reduced by other elements.
The city donated the display to the churches to display on a rotating basis.
Haolloran said, "We thought the [city hall] display was in compliance" with
U.S. law and its supporters want it back "in recognition of Christmas." She said
the group had the assistance of the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor in
writing the petition language.
The petition calls for the city to display the nativity scene and secular holiday
symbols from the Monday after Thanksgiving until Jan. 6 each year on city hall
property on Coolidge, a block south of 12 Mile. The petition must be approved
by the state Attorney General's Office to be placed on the November ballot in
Berkley.
- Alan Hitsky, associate editor
July 27* 28 • 29
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July 26 . 2007
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