A Synagogue in an Old Philadelphia Prison Sheds Light on Debates Over Freedom of Religion

The historic Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia is shedding light on how complex the freedom of religion and worship in prisons has been throughout history by utilizing its restored prisoner synagogue. Serving today as a museum and tourist attraction, this imposing stone structure stands out for establishing the first dedicated prison synagogue in the USA in 1922. The prison's founding philosophy was built upon Christian-based concepts of repentance and remorse; the aim was to force prisoners into a spiritual reckoning within their own inner worlds by subjecting them to complete isolation. However, this new exhibition demonstrates how the rights of prisoners with different faiths evolved over time within prison systems, despite these spiritual and religious foundations. Curator Josh Perelman emphasizes that the synagogue serves as concrete, lived evidence of the legal expansion of prisoners' rights to practice their own faiths.

Although the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees every citizen freedom of religion and belief, the boundaries of these rights become extremely ambiguous once a person is incarcerated. The legal background displayed in the exhibition sheds light on that dark era in the 1871 Ruffin对Virginia case, where the USA Supreme Court ruled that prisoners forfeited all personal rights, defining them literally as "slaves of the state." By the mid-20th century, although courts began to rule that prisoners could retain certain fundamental rights, progress in the realm of religious freedom was exceedingly slow and painful. Appellate and Supreme Court decisions fluctuated over the years, constantly imposing restrictions on how prisoners practiced their faiths. This situation paints a clear picture showing that religious freedoms in American prisons are not fully secured even today.

The inconsistency of judicial organs regarding religious freedom in prisons is a current issue that still persists today. In the past, courts ruled that prisoners could keep religious texts such as the Quran in their cells, but they also made contradictory decisions, such as restricting Muslim prisoners from performing communal prayers. In 2022, even though the Supreme Court decided that prisoners sentenced to death have the right to have a spiritual leader present at the time of execution, it is known that some states today refuse to comply with this ruling. Shortly before the exhibition opened, the Supreme Court also delivered a mixed ruling regarding the forced cutting of the dreadlocks worn by a Rastafarian prisoner in accordance with his faith. While the Court affirmed the individual's right to grow his hair, it restricted avenues for seeking recourse by preventing the officials who carried out the act from being sued.

In 1922, considering the national atmosphere of the time, setting aside a dedicated worship area for Jews in a prison was an extraordinary and groundbreaking step. During those years, the United States was at the peak of the racist and pseudoscientific eugenics movement, while simultaneously intense hostility towards immigrants and restrictive laws targeting them were being discussed. Perelman describes the coming together of people from different faith groups in Philadelphia during such a difficult and prejudiced time to create a sacred worship space for Jewish prisoners at Eastern State Penitentiary as one of the most beautiful examples of social solidarity. Beyond being merely a place of worship, this historic synagogue represents the power of action and resistance of local communities during periods of increasing persecution and discrimination. Perelman notes that this formation demonstrates that local communities always possess the power to create concrete change, regardless of what is happening in the national context.

In conclusion, this exhibition, titled "Freedom Through Faith: Judaism in Eastern State and Beyond," serves as a bridge taking visitors into the depths of the struggle for freedom of religion in America. This small synagogue, built between prison walls, reveals the evolution of the penal system, the limits of religious tolerance, and the arduous process of defending human rights. By highlighting the ongoing struggle for prisoner rights, the exhibition reminds us that defending constitutional rights requires a grueling battle on the inside as much as on the outside. During this period when the United States is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding, the curator addresses how the message of democracy and freedom of religion carried by such a historic space resonates on both a global and local scale. On this occasion, questioning the approach of the American judicial and penal systems to religious diversity from the past to the present proves how valuable every step taken to secure these rights truly is.