And the Chazon for the High Holidays in prison: The fire lighter from Square neighborhood

"For the first time, prison officers allowed us to hold a Minyan," writes Shaul Spitzer, the lighter who was sentenced to 7 years in prison after throwing a petrol bomb at the house of Aaron Chaim Rottenberg, a resident of Kiryat Square - and caused him severe burns.

Spitzer sent a letter to 'Der Yid ', describing the Yomim Noroim in jail. In his letter, he provides a rare glimpse into one of the best-kept prisons in New York, where he is serving his sentence.

At first I thought about writing a diary, "he begins," but I refrained because I am not a writer, and maybe no one will want to publicize what I write, and I will toil in vain. "

Spitzer recalls that when he initially asked for a Minyan for the high holidays – he was refused.

"We had to act," he writes, "and on Erev Shabbos Parshas Nitzavim, I received a positive answer, which can permit the introduction of eight people, and for the full completion of the Minyan, jail inmates were permitted to join."

Spitzer says that the eight yeshiva students were staying at a hostel a mile from the prison, and on the nights of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur they were in prison until 21:45. On Yom Kippur, they were permitted to stay in jail for 13 hours, from morning until evening.

On that day the orthodox prisoners were excused from the prisoner counting which is held every day at midnight, "he recalls." Kryias HaTorah was read from a small Sefer Torah one of the activists brought with him.

"On Yom Kippur, when one is prohibited from carrying, prison officers assigned a closed room where the Sefer Torah and Machzors and the Yeshiva students personal belongings were kept. Documents that were left in the room were needed to present when entering the prison and by an unprecedented move – the authorities gave up on their presentation".

"The atmosphere of vengeance," Spitzer describes the prayers. "Jewish prisoners whom attended prayed for the first time. A man who has been in prison for 28 years prayed with us and this was his first time since being imprisoned that he took part in a Minyan. I, along with another guy from Flatbush, davened in front of the Aron Hakodesh."

He also praised the prison authorities: "They made sure we had food for the meals on Rosh Hashana which were held in a special room allocated to us, and with us were the eight yeshiva students. Havdalah was also conducted there on Motzei Rosh Hashana and on Motzei Yom Kippur; we broke the fast and danced together."
He says, "It was impressive and unusual when we shouted all together in prayer, H-A-M-E-L-E-C-H, a simple faith in the real judge who is the King of Kings and the true court is taking place right now."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!