Letter to Dr. Weiss about Responding to Criticism by Israel Kelman on OU India Policy (1961)

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Letter from Moses Feuerstein about Soliciting R. Kahaneman to Weigh in on the Bene Israel Controversy (1961)

Dear Norman, I have your letter of June 23rd addressed to Rabbi Zev Gotthold. Rabbi Kahaneman of the Ponovizh Yeshiva may still be in America. I would suggest you contact him immediately, in my name, and assign to him the responsibility to get the results. If he has gone, would you please write to him, in my name, in a similar vein. This is in reference to the responsa you are awaiting from Rabbi Rozovsky. With kindest personal regards, I remainSincerely yours,Moses I. FeuersteinMIF/eocRabbi Norman LammThe Jewish Center 131 West 86th Street New York, New York

Practical Halacha India

Letter to Dr. Weiss about Prudence of Avoiding Discussion with Indians of Israeli Rabbinate's Position on Bene Israel (1962)

Dear Dr. Weiss: With regard to the decision, I suggest that you try your very best to avoid a direct encounter with our Indian friends on the question of Rabbi Nissim's ruling. I have great confidence in your tact and trust your means to avoid the issue without seeming to so. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Practical Halacha India

Letter to Dr. Weiss about the OU's Attitude Towards the Position of the Israeli Rabbinate on Bene Israel and Sending a Rabbi to India (1962)

Dear Dr. Weiss: (1) The enclosed copy is for your records.(2) Your letter to Jhirad was most appropriate. To say that I am dismayed by the information he has sent us from Bombay is an understatement. (3) I have before me the letter to you of April 22nd from Dr. Tartakower. Basically, I think he is right. The “p’sak” by the Chief Rabbi has been given and, as you so well put it, “gazetted.” The problem of the controversy that remains would come into consideration, possibly, if the Union were called upon to officiate at a wedding or openly declare its position. However, this is not the case. All that we are asked to do is to participate in the budget for sending a qualified Rabbi to India. We ought to have sufficient confidence in the Chief Rabbi to do at least this. Frankly, from Jhirad’s letters, from the apparent deterioration in the situation in Bombay, and from information from other sources, the situation is most acute, and nothing less than sending a Rabbi now—not three years hence—will be an adequate solution.To my mind, we ought to inform Dr. Tartakower that we agree in principle, but that the exact nature of our budgetary commitment is as yet undetermined. The Overseas Commission should then make a decision in the matter.Sincerely,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:ffEnd.

Practical Halacha India