Rosh Hashana Services Held Aboard Soviet Cruise Ship

This resort city was the site of a minor moment in Soviet-American detente Monday night when Jewish passengers aboard the Soviet luxury cruise liner “Maxim Gorky,” docked in Nassau harbor, were able to hold Rosh Hashana services in the ship’s chapel. The formal celebration of the New Year aboard the liner was a first for the Russian Black Sea Shipping Company which runs the cruise ship between Nassau and New York.

Wine and fruit were sent to the congregation by the captain. Several Russian Jewish crewmen attended the religious rites. The services were held at sundown shortly after the ship had docked at Nassau’s Prince George Wharf. The Rosh Hashana celebration was the spontaneous idea of a passenger, Dr. Barry C. Shapiro of Massachusetts, and the ship’s purser.