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Correspondence

May 1969

Exchange about the Internal Strife at Shaarei Zedek Hospital (1969)

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1. R. Lamm to Correspondent 3

1. R. Lamm to Correspondent 3 (May 2, 1969)

1. R. Lamm to Correspondent 3 (May 2, 1969)

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Correspondence

Letter to Dr. Kaminetsky about the Internal Strife at Shaarei Zedek Hospital and its Effect on Communal Leaders (1969)

Dear Joe: I am writing about a matter you mentioned to me casually a week or so ago, and about which I am also writing to leaders of other major Orthodox organizations. I believe the time has come for all of us to stand up and be counted in the Shaare Zedek affair. I am not referring to the merits of the controversy itself – I personally support and admire him, though I understand that honorable men may differ. What concerns me is the degradation of this controversy into the ugliest kind of polemics that our community – so often plagued by destructive disputes – has suffered in a long time. While Orthodox organizations, quick to speak out on issues far removed from immediate Torah concerns, have remained thunderously silent, three distinguished Orthodox Jews have suffered scandalous humiliation simply because of their support for Shaare Zedek. I think you will agree that Max Stern, Ludwig Jesselson, and Charles Bendheim are among the most philanthropic Jews in Orthodox life. Virtually every worthy Jewish cause has benefited from their generosity, and without them Shaare Zedek would likely not survive, let alone expand. Yet because of this controversy, unscrupulous agitators have been picketing their offices and circulating scurrilous leaflets with their pictures. The chillul Hashem has been enormous. Non-Orthodox Jews who witness these spectacles are repelled rather than drawn closer to Torah and piety, while non-Jews form their own obvious impressions of Jews as a whole. What must such leading Orthodox laymen think when, after decades of personal sacrifice and contributions to Torah causes, not a single national Orthodox organization comes to their defense – not even to denounce the agitators and deplore their methods? The time is long past when we can ignore these disgraceful events and remain silent in our comfortable shells. Whatever our views of the substantive issue, there is no justification for the shameful insults to which these men have been subjected. I…
Zionism

Correspondence

Letter to R. Zev Segal about the Internal Strife at Shaarei Zedek Hospital and its Effect on Communal Leaders (1969)

Dear Zev: Some time ago, I appeared at a meeting of the RCA Executive Committee, together with Dr. Irving Greenberg, and discussed with you and the Executive the means whereby RCA could help in the unfortunate disputes surrounding Shaare Zedek Hospital and [redacted]. At that time, the decision was to postpone any action until you personally could seek some means of solving the problem through quiet negotiation. Since I have not heard from you these past several months, I assume that these efforts were unsuccessful.I think the time has come for all of us to stand up and be counted in the matter of Shaare Zedek.I am not referring to the actual controversy concerning [redacted]. I myself happen to be a supporter and admirer of his. However, I can understand that honorable men can have a point of view different from my own, much as I might disagree with them.What I am concerned about is the degradation of this controversy into the ugliest kind of polemics that our community — often bedevilled by disruptive disputes — has suffered in a long, long time.While Orthodox organizations, who frequently express themselves on issues remote from immediate Torah concerns, have remained thunderously silent, three distinguished Orthodox Jews have suffered scandalous humiliation and insult because of their support of Shaare Zedek and \_\_. I think you will agree that Max Stern, Ludwig Jesselson, and Charles Bendheim are three of the most philanthropic Jews in Orthodox Jewry throughout the world. There is not a single worthy Jewish cause that has not benefited from their munificence. Without them, Shaare Zedek Hospital would probably not survive, let alone expand.Because of the \_\_, groups of unscrupulous hotheads, from various circles, have been picketing their offices at odd times and distributing scurrilous literature with their pictures printed on these sheets. The Chillul Hashem has been enormous, as you can well understand. Non-Orthodox Jews who have witnessed these spectacles…
Zionism

Correspondence

Letter from Elchanan Pels to the Editor of the Jewish Press Responding to Criticism of Shaare Zedek Hospital (1970)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I am sending you enclosed a photocopy of an article written by Arnold Fine in the April 17 to April 25 issue of the Jewish Press which shocked us very much. Although we can understand that Mr. Fine was upset about his son's illness and, being far from home, had to go through unfamiliar procedures, his report about Shaare Zedek is incredible and not factual. We feel that the whole tone of this article is so undignified that it would not be right for the hospital to send an official reply to the *Jewish Press*. On the other hand, this should not go unanswered, and the best possible reaction to such an article would be the spontaneous reply from a person like yourself who knows Shaare Zedek well from his personal experiences there and has a high standing in his community. You could state that this description of Shaare Zedek is completely out of line with your own experience of the hospital, both with regard to cleanliness and courteous treatment by our staff.We would very much appreciate it, were you to write a suitable letter to the *Jewish Press*.Nachum Pessin asked me to convey to you his warmest regards.Thanking you for any help you could give us in this matter, I am, with best wishes and personal regards,Director of Public RelationsEEP/smgcc: Rev. A. Asher HirschAmerican CommitteeShaare Zedek
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