In a ceremony that was unusual and impressive, the congregation of Jewish prisoners at San Quentin penitentiary was presented with a scroll of the law on behalf of the Jewish Committee for Personal service in State Institutions by Rabbi Rudolph I. Coffee, president of the state committee.
San Quentin thereby has the unique distinction of being the only penitentiary on the Pacific Coast possessing a scroll of the law. Though this is the most densely populated state prison in America, with a population of more than 5,700, the Jewish inmates number only three per cent. of the total of prisoners. They recently formed a congregation there.
This congregation, under guidance of the state committee, holds services on all holy days and on the Sabbath once each month. They kept two nights of the Seder this year.
Dr. Coffee made the presentation speech in turning over the scroll of the law and it was accepted in behalf of the Jewish prisoners by Warden James B. Holohan and Frank B. Sykes, president of the State Board of Prison Directors.
Samuel G. Holcenberg, executive director of the Jewish Committee, and Sol Voorsanger read the prayer services incident to the presentation. Many non-Jews listened to Dr. Coffee’s address. He is regarded as a leader in enological work and has a high reputation among prison officials.
HEAR YEHUDI MENUHIN
San Francisco music lovers packed the spacious Civic Auditorium to hear Yehudi Menuhin, who had crossed the continent to give a benefit concert for the San Francisco Symphony orchestra.
The young genius, beloved as San Francisco’s own, was accorded a rousing ovation and won the plaudits of his hearers throughout the concert.
The affair netted $9,000 for the benefit of the symphony.
Yehudi, who is accompanied by his father, Moshe Menuhin, plans to remain in and about San Francisco for a week before joining his mother and sisters in New York.
PREPARE FOR DRIVE
With teams of men and women organized for a canvass of every section of the city, San Francisco’s annual campaign for the Jewish National Welfare Fund will start tomorrow. The goal is $400,000.
Berthold Guggenhime, campaign director, has issued an appeal to the community, pointing out that every man and woman must give his share in order to reach the quota set for ## year’s drive.
Five thousand children of the religious school will be mobilized to assist in the campaign.
HELLER HEADS CAMP
Walter D. Heller has been elected chairman of the committee in charge of Camp Tawonga, the annual camp for Jewish boys and girls maintained jointly by the B’nai B’rith and the Jewish Community Center. He succeeds Maurice L. Rapheld.
This year’s camp will open June 25 for the boys and on July 23 ## girls.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
