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Correspondence

March 1962

Exchange with R. Itamar about Indian Student at Yeshivat Kol Torah (1962)

India

1. R. Itamar to R. Lamm

1. R. Itamar to R. Lamm (March 13, 1962)

1. R. Itamar to R. Lamm (March 13, 1962)

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Exchange with Haham Gaon about Recruiting Rabbi and Proposed Takkanot for India (1961)

My dear Rabbi Lamm, Herewith I am sending you the Tekanot as suggested for the communities of India. As you will see I only introduced a few changes and both Rabbi Sassoon and Rabbi Adess agreed with these changes. I am now awaiting for your report on India as well as for the results of your intervention with the Lubavitcher Hassidim in connection with the appointment of a Rabbi for India. I have no doubt that until and unless a Rabbi is appointed in that continent there will be no assurance that a religious life will develop. Please will you also tell Rabbi Weiss that I was very glad to receive a copy of the letter to the Rabbi in Tel Aviv urging him to make a decision Bene-Israel. The decision is of great importance because I feel that Bene Israel will be leaving the Orthodox camp and joining that of Reform and Conservative Jewry and one indeed will not be able to blame them if they do so. I am sending also a copy of these Tekanot to Rabbi Weiss.With all best wishes,Sincerely yours.Solomon GaonHaham.
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Exchange with R. Gotthold about the Chief Rabbinate's Decision on the Bene Israel (1961)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, When I received your letter I knew it was a rather hopeless cause. The Shochtim had been neat-roaded through, Rabbi Ruvain Katz not attending out of protest. Since certain circles (Agudah) would like to make political hay out of it, I was told that whatever appeared in the press is all that will be published. Instructions to the readers how to handle B’nai Israel applicants have not been issued yet. Within the next 10 days it may be issued upon his directive. I doubt whether he’ll rescind it, though pressure is brought to bear on him and others is soon. If anything further will develop, I’ll let you know. Rabbi Nissim himself has sincerely to thank for your breaking out of the idea of sending Rabbi Shevitz to Bombay. In order to avoid losing ground there entirely, particularly after the Conservative Benjamin group has consented to leave him, possibly our Ministry together with the WJC may send him there for half a year. I personally am sorry that the UOJCA is taking such an attitude. Have you found anyone better? Keep well, Zev G.
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Exchange with R. Gotthold about the Slow Religious Growth of Indian Kol Torah Student (1963)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, We are at present facing difficulties which grew out of the problem called [redacted], who is now two and one half years in Jerusalem. You may recall that during your visit to Bombay three years ago you had lined up four candidates for rabbinical training in Israel. Of these only [redacted] came through. He feels that now he has a monopoly on your commitment to make him a rabbi in Bombay, and we see that the lack of competition makes him complacent. We have our reservations about the prospects of seeing this “sole candidate” as a dominating factor in easing the problems of religious life and leadership in his home community. Actually, we ought to have a choice from the best qualified from among several competent students, which probably was your original idea. Perhaps we ought to consider the further training of graduate teachers sent to India from the Gold Institute, who have proven their reliable religious attitude since they have returned to India as teachers, Mohalim and Shohatim. I have worked there particularly with two of them and have been most favorably impressed by them. During his first year at Kol Torah, [redacted] had to be introduced to many facets of Jewish life and learning, which had been entirely strange to him. Our periodic check-ups revealed that he made good progress, adjusted to yeshiva life, and met with a sympathetic and helpful attitude on the part of fellow students and families in Bayit Vagan. At the end of his first year Kol Torah suggested to us that he be transferred to a Sefardi yeshiva. We opposed this plan although [redacted] himself did consider such transfer seriously because he felt that the training he received at Kol Torah was too one-sided, too much concentrating on Talmud, whereas he had been promised a more comprehensive course of studies, including Bible, history, philosophy, etc. Some of his fellow students had taken turns during the year to teach him Humash and Rashi. However the progress has been very s…
India