Letter to Kodimoh Congregants Announcing Birchat Kohanim Classes (1956)

Although Rabbi Joseph Lookstein was unable to attend Rabbi Lamm’s installation in Springfield, the invitation itself reflected Lamm’s deep sense of gratitude to his first mentor in homiletics. From 1951 to 1952, Lamm had served as a rabbinic intern at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun under Rabbi Lookstein’s guidance. Lookstein was also asked to speak at both of Lamm’s earlier installations – at the West Side Jewish Center in 1952 and at The Jewish Center in 1958.

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Letter to Kodimoh Congregants Outlining Yizkor Policies (1954)

Dear Friend: May we call to your attention a new feature in Kodimoh's spiritual program, which will no doubt be of interest to you? In the past, it has been our custom, on the four times a year when the Yizkor is recited, to read the names of the deceased in the course of the Memorial Prayers. Unfortunately, we have found that as time passes, more and more names are submitted for mentioning. This has reached the point where it has proven burdensome for the congregation to remain standing for the lengthy recital of the names. We feel that to continue in the same manner detracts from the dignity of the service and is well-nigh impractical. We know that in a number of years from now it will be completely out of the question. It has therefore been decided to adopt a system whereby we will be able to memorialize our beloved departed and still maintain the dignity and decorum of the service. Each year, before Yom Kippur, we shall publish a printed booklet containing the Yizkor prayers including a list of all the names of the deceased whose memory we wish to reverence. The Cantor will recite a collective "El Mole" for all those whose names appear in the booklet, at all four occasions during the year when Yizkor is said.The names which appear on plaques will be automat-ically included without special charge. For those who want to memorialize relatives and friends for whom there are no plaques, the following system will be adopted. For a voluntary contribution per name, we will include the name of the deceased plus the name of the donor. Since this is not a fund raising proposition we have decided to place a maximum limit on the donation. The charge, therefore, is entirely up to you. You are invited to give any contribution per name you wish, but the maximum limit is $15.00 per name.Ue respectfully request that you hurry and fill out the enclosed form. Please remember that the dead-line is September 20th. Absolutely no applications will be accepted after that date until the…

Kehillat Kodimoh

Letter from Kodimoh Congregants Advocating Proposed Changes (1957)

Dear Sir: My friend and I, both Kodimoh members, were visiting the other night. The subject of our Synagogue came up and we discussed a few problems and wondered what the answers were. We wondered what was going on. Since there has been no congregational meeting, and since we do not belong to the Board of Directors, we thought that we would write to you in the form of a ’Letter to the Editor’, and perhaps you would have the information, or better still would refer these questions to the proper individual or committee. We have heard considerable talk about the possibility of building a new edifice – perhaps to compete with the other temples in our community. Everyone would agree that it is high time that Kodimoh took steps to provide adequate facilities for its expanded program. According to the Rabbi’s announcement on Yom Kippur, something is about to be done. Some people apparently question the advisability of continuing in our present form. We do not believe that the seating problem is a real serious one – we would be willing to accept this as a theological question to be settled by the Rabbi. We think, rather, that some changes should be made in the present policy – in order to make the program more interesting. On these past high holidays, we admit, the services were outstanding; the decorum was excellent; the sermons were outstanding; and there were even some English prayers. Why can't we have some English prayers included during the weekly Sabbath services, and on the other holidays. During the recent holiday of Succos, one of us attended - there wasn't one English prayer. Most of us, you know, doA't understand much of the actual meaning of most of the prayers.Ihe same applies to the community singing. We have some on Saturday, sone on the high holidays - but none on other holidays. Why can't we have more? We are singing the same number of melodies to-day as we did twenty years ago. It would seem that the Cantor should get more seriously interested in the mus…

Kehillat Kodimoh

Letters to New and Old Presidents of Congregation Kodimoh (1964)

Our heartiest best wishes and congratulations. May God grant you a successful tenure in which Kodimoh will grow to unprecedented heights in the service of Torah and Israel. Rabbi and Mrs. Lamm We join with your many friends in hailing your splendid contributions to Kodimoh over the years. May the Almighty grant you, your wife and children, many years of health and good cheer in which to contribute further to Torah and Israel. Rabbi and Mrs. Lamm

Kehillat Kodimoh