A calling to give succour to Jews in prison

SUZANNE BELLING

PHOTOGRAPH BY SUZANNE BELLING

Pictured  Rabbi Michael Katz.

“We all have our faults,” says Rabbi Katz. “These are people who have messed up in the financial or spiritual realm. But they are human beings – Jews – and they have lives, souls and families.”

According to both chaplains, who cover the Gauteng jails – Diepkloof in Soweto (dubbed Sun City), Kgosi Mampuru (formerly Pretoria Central), Leeuwkop in Kyalami, Sonderwater near Cullinan and Nigel – the prisons are overcrowded with terrible conditions (“although the women’s prisons are slightly better”, according to Resnick).

At present there are only about eight Jews in prison – “none of them women at this stage”, Resnick said she was pleased to report.

“This is the lowest figure ever,” says Rabbi Katz. “There are, among them two fraudsters, one imprisoned for drugs and one murderer serving life.”

Resnick says women prisoners for the most part comprised those guilty of fraud and drug trafficking.

Under the apartheid regime they dealt with political prisoners and those supporting the End Conscription Campaign.

“But now the role of being a prison chaplain necessitates discretion. “And once they are freed, they don’t want to be reminded of their time there.”

Correctional Services are attempting to upgrade the prisons “but in my humble opinion, they are fighting a losing battle. It is an impossible situation – there are 60 guys in a space meant for 20 and people sharing beds – terrible overcrowding. There are great people in the system, but there is the inability to cater for so many,” Rabbi Katz told SA Jewish Report.

Unlike movies and TV, “there is nothing glamorous about being in prison or visiting prisoners and although people have a fascination with this, seeing a prisoner reflects the lowest time of his life,” he said.

Rabbi Katz became a chaplain like his father Rabbi Sidney Katz, zt”l, who handed over the reins to his son in later years.

Immediately one senses with both the rabbi and Shirley there is no censure, nothing judgmental, only practical help and counselling.

It is not difficult to see how both male and female prisons open up to these tzaddikim and in turn receive counselling and practical help.

“I have never felt threatened; prisoners usually share stuff, they want the counselling and have become my friends,” says Rabbi Katz.

The prisoners all wear orange overalls, except in the holding cells when awaiting trial or sentencing, when they wear a different uniform. The holding cells, if anything, have worse conditions than the prisons themselves.

“But I have never comes across any abuse,” says Rabbi Katz, although Resnick says there have been some problems with women.

Kosher food in South African prisons is not possible because:

• The numbers do not warrant it;
• Bringing in food from the outside presents a security problem;
• There could be jealousy from other prisoners regarding special treatment of Jews.

However, the Chevrah Kadisha makes sure that before Pesach, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, food parcels are given to the Jewish prisoners. “We do take additional food because there are suddenly extra people claiming to be Jewish,” Resnick says.

“We are not allowed to take in glass, bottles or jars, so everything has to be decanted into plastic containers.”

The Chevrah Kadisha also takes care of the prisoners’ families living at home. “If a Jewish inmate becomes ill, we will help with the medical aid and we assist with school fees for children. After serving their time, all prisoners are immediately referred to Jewish Community Services for psycho-social assistance.

Rabbi Katz says he encourages prisoners to eat basic food like milk and bread, so there is nothing intrinsically unkosher. “A kosher diet to the prison authorities means no pork,” he says.

The chaplains have a roster of pro deo attorneys and advocates to help awaiting trial prisoners and to advise them on their legal rights.

“We continue with financial assistance when prisoners come home,” said Resnick.

She describes her fellow chaplain as giving “chizuk and inspiration. For the prisoners it is like being in Gehinnom – it is the mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim (redemption of prisoners) to keep them out of jail. But if they are incarcerated, it is up to us to give support.”

Prison chaplains in other parts of the country are Rabbi Kalman Green (Western Cape) and Shlomo Wainer (KwaZulu-Natal).