# What happens to Jews in prison? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263 "2008-07-04T03:59:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/81 "2012-08-19T18:37:30Z")
Jews are unfairly segregated with neo-Nazis during lockdowns and every once in awhile, a story pops up. I don’t know about Jewish communities elsewhere, but here, they have several chaplains to choose from. A friend of mine actually conducts services. They’re funded by various Jewish organizations. ---
**Author:** ![HoneybeeChanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f8ce5/32.png) [@HoneybeeChanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneybeeChanger)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/82 "2012-08-19T20:21:38Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > Jews are unfairly segregated with neo-Nazis during lockdowns and every once in awhile, a story pops up. I don’t know about Jewish communities elsewhere, but here, they have several chaplains to choose from. A friend of mine actually conducts services. They’re funded by various Jewish organizations. Cool. I do think that recunstructionists and reform jewish cummunities probably reach out to to jewish prisoners more than the more orthodox ones. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/83 "2012-08-19T20:39:39Z")
There’s another great difficulty in keep us Hebrews behind bars. We eat lox! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HoneybeeChanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f8ce5/32.png) [@HoneybeeChanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneybeeChanger)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/84 "2012-08-19T20:58:45Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > This is really interesting stuff! Am I the only one thinking this stuff should be in a movie or tv series or something? The neonazi with swastikas on both hands befriending the obvious Jewish guy, and bonding over a lighter made of an old battery. > > Trying to get you to tell more, who should you watch out for, how do you fight back but not get in trouble, who were the friendly people? That’s kind of been done before in Bad Boys 1983 with Shawn Penn. his cellmate Barry Horwitz, is Jewish played by Eric Gurry. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MRuUD9jfF0E?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![HoneybeeChanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f8ce5/32.png) [@HoneybeeChanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneybeeChanger)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/85 "2012-08-19T21:01:41Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > There’s another great difficulty in keep us Hebrews behind bars. > > We eat lox! > > 😃 Very punny but not that funny. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HoneybeeChanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f8ce5/32.png) [@HoneybeeChanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneybeeChanger)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/86 "2012-08-19T21:40:03Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > A higher percentage of white people in jails are non-violent offenders than that of the other groups. If you’re talking about maximum security prisons for violent offenders, the percentage of whites would undoubtedly be a lot lower. Ok so the statistic might be skewed by incorrect listing of race on paper. It dosent matter what they put on paper once they are inside amongst the other prisoners. It more what you look like and what your name sounds like. If you mother is Irish and your father is Hispanic, Black or Jewish or Indian if you look like your father and you have his last name that how people will precieve and treat you inside and outside the slammer. I think they the inmates who put down that they are white when they aren’t think that the parole board might treat them better if they think that they are white. True “Race” no longer exists because difininitively speaking they homogenous genetic pools. Jews are not a race anyway. We are a nation of people who were kicked out of our land in 73AD and we are also defined by particular reliouse beliefs. Jew comes from the word Judean from the Kingdom of Judea. The people who fled from the Kindom Of Israel to India call themselves Benei Yisrael and don’t like being called Jews because they were not Judeans. We are spread all over the world and we look like everyone. Aaron made fun of his brother Moses for taking a dark skinned non-Israelite (child of Jacob). There are several biblical references of genetic mixing. Now, Hispanics from the Americas which of Maya, Incan decent do tend to me shorter. Spanish people from Spain don’t tend to be that tall compared with some other European nationalities but they seem to be tall enough to give our NBA player a run for the money. That is they were not incredibly short. JK. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anchuldigs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anchuldigs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anchuldigs)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/87 "2012-08-20T04:43:25Z")
> [@HoneybeeChanger](#): > > Cool. I do think that recunstructionists and reform jewish cummunities probably reach out to to jewish prisoners more than the more orthodox ones. [think again](http://aleph-institute.org/prison-programs.html) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/88 "2012-08-20T05:55:49Z")
I wonder how David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam) gets along. ---
**Author:** ![melpeexxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@melpeexxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melpeexxx)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/89 "2015-12-29T04:00:53Z")
Most Jews in prison are non-believers but suddenly become aware that they are a Jew. Violence is rare but threats continue daily. One of the favorite scare used against the Jew is to have his eyes poked out after he falls asleep. This keeps the Jew awake for days resulting in hallucinations. Being verbally isolated can be psychologically devastating which often leads to the traumatized Jew offering anything possible for a few kind words from an extortion gang. Dozens of scare tactics are used. Upon discharge the Jew is forever traumatized with horror filled nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/90 "2015-12-29T04:16:23Z")
> [@melpeexxx](#): > > Most Jews in prison are non-believers but suddenly become aware that they are a Jew. Violence is rare but threats continue daily. One of the favorite scare used against the Jew is to have his eyes poked out after he falls asleep. This keeps the Jew awake for days resulting in hallucinations. Being verbally isolated can be psychologically devastating which often leads to the traumatized Jew offering anything possible for a few kind words from an extortion gang. Dozens of scare tactics are used. Upon discharge the Jew is forever traumatized with horror filled nightmares. That’s interesting. That sounds exactly like what prison would be like for a lot of people of any religion. Why is the threat of eye poking the favorite scare for Jews? ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/91 "2015-12-29T04:42:22Z")
What’s more interesting is that evidently all the doors are unlocked at night in American prisons, and inmates permitted to creep from cell to cell. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/92 "2015-12-29T06:02:54Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I wonder how David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam) gets along. I heard he converted to Christianity and is a jailhouse preacher. Yes, I’m aware this is a zombie thread. ---
**Author:** ![botsgotme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/93 "2015-12-29T13:33:02Z")
So where did they put Bernie Madoff? Aside from being Jewish, there are a lot of people who got taken by the guy…I imagine that he would be under some kind of special handling. Imagine, an assassination in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/94 "2015-12-29T13:52:41Z")
> [@melpeexxx](#): > > Most Jews in prison are non-believers but suddenly become aware that they are a Jew. Violence is rare but threats continue daily. One of the favorite scare used against the Jew is to have his eyes poked out after he falls asleep. This keeps the Jew awake for days resulting in hallucinations. Being verbally isolated can be psychologically devastating which often leads to the traumatized Jew offering anything possible for a few kind words from an extortion gang. Dozens of scare tactics are used. Upon discharge the Jew is forever traumatized with horror filled nightmares. I suppose there is a cite for this somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/95 "2015-12-29T16:36:02Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > If a Jewish prisoner therefore asked to be transferred to a city like NYC or Atlanta where there were enough rabbis to have Sabbath services, would this request probably be deemed reasonable and granted? There is absolutely no requirement for a rabbi to be present for Sabbath. Any adult Jew can lead Sabbath prayers and rituals. A rabbi is not the same thing as a Christian priest or minister. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/96 "2015-12-29T16:57:39Z")
> [@melpeexxx](#): > > Most Jews in prison are non-believers but suddenly become aware that they are a Jew… A well known adage: you can always forget you’re a Jew until a gentile reminds you. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/97 "2015-12-30T05:01:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The main factor that comes to mind concerning Jewish prisoners is food. Many non-Jewish prisoners “convert” to Judaism in prison in order to qualify for kosher meals. We prepare most of the meals within the prison system but the kosher meals are bought pre-made from outside venders and are generally considered to be better. So are we taxpayers paying for their circumcisions in prison? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/98 "2015-12-30T06:19:11Z")
Just the price of a pin. For the pinprick. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/99 "2015-12-30T08:03:52Z")
Who pays for the Mogen David concord grape and the honey cake? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263/100 "2015-12-30T09:30:44Z")
My father spent a lot of time in prison and although he was mostly in pretty easy places(work release and stuff like that), when he did hard time he did tend to hang with the Aryans and ended up adopting a lot of their views towards blacks, if not their whole agenda. When he heard I had black friends from my grandfather he flipped and told me he didn’t want me hanging out with those boys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-jews-in-prison/455263.md?page=6)