Exchange with R. Gertz about Lack of Communication for Russian Jewry Advocacy (1972)

1. R. Lamm to R. Gertz (March 16, 1972)

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Exchange with R. Karasick about Lack of Contribution from OU for Soviet Jewry Effort (1970)

Dear Rabbi Karasick: I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman of the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry. The Conference, as you know, is composed of a number of organizations, one of which is the Orthodox Union. Representatives of the Union often appear at our meetings. (I might add that although I am considered as one of the people from the Union, I attend in a personal capacity because I am Chairman.) The Conference, which is New York Jewry’s only way of expressing itself on Soviet Jewry, does not have individual membership, nor does it possess any capacity for fund-raising. We rely completely upon the contribution made to our efforts by the participating organizations. To my chagrin, the Union is one of the very few major organizations that has contributed nothing so far in terms of money or significant use of personnel. Now, however, we are planning for a large demonstration called an Exodus March, which will take place on April 26th, Chol Ha-moed Pesach, from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. We hope to have the largest outpouring of New York Jewry that this city has ever seen on behalf of the Russian Jews. We are asking every organization, regardless of how much its ultimate annual contribution to this effort will be, to make an immediate outlay of $200 towards this affair alone. This amount will then be taken into consideration in determining what each organization will do for Russian Jewry on a regular, ongoing, annual basis. Please do be kind enough to let us have that amount at the earliest possible opportunity. At the same time, I would very much request of you to use all the Union’s channels of communication to advertise the Exodus March and so help us obtain that mass outpouring of people and sentiment that we expect and that Russian Jewry deserves of us. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Soviet Jewry

Exchange with R. Kowalsky about Advocacy for Dr. Schapira's Emigration from Soviet Russia (1972)

Dear Sholem: I am sending you enclosed xeroxes of correspondence I have had with Rabbi Shalom Schapiro of Tel Aviv. He has written to me about his son, scientist in Belgorod Oblastnoi, with his family, who wants to emigrate to Israel. They have been turned down for the fifth time now and Dr. Schapiro has been out of work for several months. There are two things I would like to ask from you: first, to have the RCA cable President Nixon, Dr. Kurt Waldheim, and Ambassador Dobrynin asking for his release. Second, to arrange for a package to be sent to Dr. Schapiro in Belgorod. Please let me know if anything can be done for him. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Soviet Jewry