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Correspondence

May-October 1971

Exchange with Jakob Michael about His Donation to Gesher Foundation (1971)

Gesher Israel

1. R. Lamm to Jakob Michael

1. R. Lamm to Jakob Michael (May 25, 1971)

1. R. Lamm to Jakob Michael (May 25, 1971)

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Correspondence

Exchange with Dr. Tropper about Disagreement on Gesher Funding (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I met with Dr. Burg on Erev Shabbat concerning your letter to Golda Meir. In between his various jokes and stories, I managed to learn that a committee composed of members of just about every party has been formed to oversee the Shapiro project. Burg, therefore, called the project "non-political." However, in subsequent meetings with the Ministry's spokesman Yaakov Agassi (Shapiro’s ex-azaer) and a few other insiders I was able to piece together the following:The “committee” is a collection of names, but in actual practice it is a Mafdal-directed affair. The Shapiro project, it seems, will after all be Gush Etzion—but not the kibbutz Kfar Etzion, rather the *Mercaz Azori* (the hill on which the Yeshiva stands—where you slept the night you attended the seminar). They plan to develop that hill—or *Yad Shapiro* as it is slated to be called—into a large educational center to the tune of IL 10 million. The Rothschilds are throwing in the lion’s share (here's where Rav Amital got his money), the government will give another large chunk, and private donations will complete it.Now \_\_\_ has been informed that if he agrees to move his *Beit Sefer Sadeh* and proposed *Midrashiat Har Chevron* to the *Mercaz Azori*, he can share in the kitty. However, \_\_\_ has stubbornly refused. He is interested in Kfar Etzion and that’s it. Despite the many logical reasons other than financial presented to dissuade him (e.g., a kibbutz is a community and not the place where you want groups of visiting kids floating around all day), he has stubbornly refused.Agassi and Moskovitz of Misrad HaPnim have told me frankly that if we can convince \_\_\_ to make the move and join him in his Midrashiat Har Chevron, there can be quite a bit of money for Gesher in the deal. However, I know \_\_\_ well, and he will not budge. No amount of money will lure him from furthering the development of his precious Kfar Etzion in the direction that he wants.And so this is the situation. Natural…
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

Letter to Jakob Michael about Russian-Language Advertisement for Gesher Foundation (1971)

Dear Mr. Michael: I received this morning the enclosed circular that is being used to advertise the Gesher seminar for Russian immigrants. Many more are being planned, and our people in Israel would like to know if you wish to have your name mentioned as the sponser of the two Russian seminars. I regret that I cannot give you an accurate translation of the enclosed, but I am sure that you can appreciate the essence of its message. The decision to print these in Russian rather than Hebrew was deliberate. We have found that Russian immigrants are highly suspicious, because of their own cultural backgrounds in the Soviet Union, and we therefore decided to cater to them more than any other group by issuing the invitations in their native language. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

Letter of Gratitude to Gesher Leadership for Gift (1971)

Dear Chaim and Dan: Although I thanked you orally when you gave me the gift of the painting by [hebrew], I want to put into writing the profound feelings of gratitude by my wife and myself as well as all our children. It is only after I came home and viewed the painting from a distance, that I realized how stunningly beautiful it is. It is so expressive and so meaningful, esthetically as well as personally, that we will treasure it and hope to cherish it for many years to come. As I told you, it was really unnecessary to do anything of this sort for me. My feelings for Gesher is both ideological and personal, with no thought of מתן שכרה בצדה Nevertheless, your gesture is something I deeply appreciate from every point of view. Anything more I can say will be superfluous; hence, just the two words - "Thank You." Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Gesher Israel