News Brief

Miami Jews collected their strength to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, notwithstanding the deplorable condition in which many find themselves following the disaster.

Services were held in the Beth David Synagogue, the Orthodox congregation, on Wednesday night. The services were held in the basement of the synagogue, where puddles of water still stood. With no electricity, by the light of candles, the synagogue presented the distressful picture of Tishe B’av rather than of the festival Succoth. The picture of distress was completed on the main floor of the synagogue which has been turned into an emergency Red Cross hospital.

Nearly all of the patients are Christian workers. The members of the congregation undertook to aid in the care of the patients and to bring supplies of food and clothing for them. A shelter for Christian children who lost their parents was also opened by the synagogue.

At the entrance of the synagogue there is a Magen David and the banner of the Red Cross, indicating the location of a hospital. The benches have been removed and beds are placed around the Oren Kodesh.

In the synagogue yard dozens of Taleisim and prayer books are spread to dry in the sun. Among these a mass of broken plate glass, benches and wet Holy Scroll decorations lie about the yard.

An interesting detail was disclosed today when it was learned that the headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan in Miami were blown down by the storm The entire block on which the Kyser Building and the Temple Israel are located has been condemned by the city authorities. The block has been isolated in fear that the buildings still standing may fall any moment.

The Jewish relief committee of Miami has not yet completed its survey. The belief is expressed, however, that very few Jews were injured.