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Correspondence

February-March 1971

Exchange with Prime Minister Golda Meir about Gesher (1971)

Gesher Israel

1. R. Lamm to Prime Minister Golda Meir

1. R. Lamm to Prime Minister Golda Meir (Feb. 19, 1971)

1. R. Lamm to Prime Minister Golda Meir (Feb. 19, 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 Chaim Billet about Correspondence with Prime Minister Golda Meir regarding Gesher (1971)

Dear Chaim: This is the correspondence dealing with Gesher, which I discussed with you when we met. I assume that by now you have not only received a telephone call from my secretary but also acted on it in notifying Danny to send the material about Gesher to the Prime Minister as soon as possible. I have sent copies of this material to Eliezer Shefer, who is a shaliach to Mizrachi youth in New York and who, together with Mr. Shiff of Hatzofe were the ones who told me about Mrs. Meir's proposal and recommended that I act on it. It was a pleasure spending time with you this past week and I very much appreciate the efficiency with which you responded to my request. Be well. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

Letter to Minister Burg about Prime Minister Golda Meir Gesher Correspondence (1971)

שלום וכל טוב! שמחתי מאוד להפגש עם מע"כ בועידת המזרחי, ומאוד מצטער אני שלא עלתה בידי לשמוע הרצאתו המאלפת במוצש"ק שהדיה הגיעו אלי למחרתו. כנראה שביסודות אין לנו שום חילוקי דעות כלל, ואילו על השאר נוכל לסמוך על רבי יוחנן (ב"מ פ"ד ע"א), "וממילא רווחא שמעתתא". אני מתכבד לשלוח לכב' ר"מ העתק של מכתב ששלחתי לראש ממשלת ישראל. הענין יתברר לכב" מתוך המכתב, ובטוחני שהוא יודע עוד פרטים שלא העליתי אותם על הכתב. שאלתי ובקשתי, ששר הפנים יתמוך בבקשתנו ושיפעיל השפעתו המרובה לטובת "גשר", תנועה אשר גם מו"ר הגרי"ד סולובייצ'יק שליט"א סמך ידיו עליה. אין לי צורך להרחיב את הדיבור על טיב הנוער הקשור ב"גשר" והברכה אשר תוכל לצמוח ממנה אם תקבל את התמיכה הנכונה. אני תפילה שמע"כ ייעתר לבקשתי ויעשה כמיטב יכולתו לטובת המוסד הזה. בכבוד ובידידות, נחום לאם
Gesher Israel