Letter to R. Gotthold about Marrying Bene Israel (1961)

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Dear Rabbi Gotthold:

Please accept my expressions of admiration at the dispatch with which you handled the "Indian purity" affair.

I must say that I cannot blame the Bene Israel for their agitation. At the same time, I am completely nonplussed by what seems to be Rabbi Nissim's acquiescence to the delegation which visited him and his agreement to affirm the permissive decisions of the two late Chief Rabbis, especially after he hedged when I broached the matter to him several months ago. I am glad to hear, however, that he is now ready to go along with the "heter."

I do not recall if I have kept you abreast of my own correspondence on this matter. I have written to Rabbi Rozovsky some four times asking him to publish his essay, then to add, if he feels unqualified, that the discussion is meant as theoretical and not in the form of a legal decision. He has not as much as answered one of my letters, although he promised to when I visited him in Bnai Brak.

Neither has Rabbi Unterman in Tel Aviv answered me yet, although I discussed the matter with him too when I was in Israel. I am certainly most interested in receiving a copy of the paper by Rabbi Rozovsky which, I gather from your letter, Rabbi Itamar has in his possession.

I am confident that you will do your level best to urge the rabbinate to come to a decision – one way or the other – very quickly and conclusively.

With regard to the technical questions concerning Nagavker, I am leaving that and all other matters of this nature in the capable hands of Dr. Samson R. Weiss, who will be contacting you about them.

I will discuss with Dr. Weiss your recommendation that Rabbi Shweika be sent to Bombay as a rabbi. Perhaps you ought to send to Dr. Weiss (who is in constant contact with me) a description in somewhat greater detail of Rabbi Shweika's qualifications as well as the expected remuneration, etc.

Thank you once again, and do let me hear from you about TRADITION.

Sincerely yours,

Rabbi Norman Lamm

Letter from Abraham Jhirad about the Israeli Position on Marriage with Bene Israel (1961)

Dear Rabbi, I acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter of May 25, and I hasten to explain the circumstances that led us to the action resorted to. I have absolutely no doubt that the entire World Jewry (except of course those who issued such prohibition) must be appalled at such atrocity. You could imagine our feelings on learning the news and especially when our non-Jewish friends and acquaintances taunted and ridiculed us. There were fortunately no mass protect meetings but every person of Jewish faith, we met, pestered us with the questioned us ״what is the orthodox Union doing about this affair?״ The day the reports appeared in the Press, I got in touch with Mr. Kelman and through him requested the Consul to issue a statement immediately to the Press, denying the facts as far as the Government of Israel was concerned and that he would investigate the matter. Had this been done, there would have appeared very few or no letters in the Press, condemning the decision and the silence of the Government, over such a touching issue. He did issue one after eight days, which slightly worsened matters (copy enclosed).A meeting of the Executive was convened and a resolution adopted, which was released to the Local Press with the solo intention of toning down the agitation of the masses. Fortunately, Rabbi Gotthold sent me the following telegram, which though vague, somewhat relaxed the tension on being released to the Press."Resolution of the Union Orthodox Jew Congregations of May Seventeenth based on unfounded misleading information stop allegations about Israel Jewish religious authorities decision vicious and dangerous fabrication please correct you misinformation shalom Gotthold Ministry for Religious Affairs."The report appeared in the French trees in the first instance and was earned by the Press Trust of India in the Indian Express (not the Times of India). But the French papers appear to have picked up the news from the Israeli papers like the 'Haaretz' and …

Combating Assimilation Who Is a Jew? India

Letter from Haham Gaon about the Status of the Bene Israel (1961)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I was glad to receive the copy of your letter to Mr. Abraham Jhirad of Bombay. I agree with everything you write. Immediately on the publication of the news that some of our Bnei Israel were not being recognised as Jews in Israel, I cabled to the Chief Rabbinate who assured me that this was not so. They stood by their earlier decision and that was that they leave it to the individual Batei Din to decide on these matters. In the meantime, I have been in touch with Bnei Israel families in London who were very disturbed by the rumours, and I assured them that, as far as our Beth Din, is concerned, they have nothing to worry for themselves or for their children.I think, however, the time has come when perhaps a joint effort should be made by us all in order to urge Israeli Rabbinate to come to a definite solution. The Bnei Israel problem has now become a burning one and almost all the touchstone of good faith, as far as this part of the House of Israel is concerned.I do hope to have the opportunity of seeing you soon and hoping to hear from you on this matter.Yours sincerely,GaonHaham

Combating Assimilation Who Is a Jew? India

Letter to R. Itamar about the Chief Rabbinate's Decision on the Bene Israel (1961)

Dear Rabbi Itamar: Please excuse me for not answering earlier your communication containing the text of the Chief Rabbinate's decision concerning the Bene Israel. The information you provided was of considerable help in our deliberations here in New York.We would like to do all that is within our power to help in this situation. We are meeting shortly in order to plan our approach.

Combating Assimilation Who Is a Jew? India