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Correspondence

May 13, 1964

Letter from Abraham Jhirad to Dr. Samson Weiss about OU Budget for Indian Jewry and Halachic Questions (1964)

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Letter from Dr. Tartakower to Saul Penkar about Bene Israel and Training a Rabbi for India (1962)

Dear Mr. Penkar: Since you sent a copy of your letter of January 5 this year to me, I forwarded the copy to Chief Rabbi Nissim. He certainly will inform you. You are informed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs that all existing marriage difficulties between members of the Bene Israel and other parts of the Jewish population were abolished. On the part of the Chief Rabbinate, there are at present no cases of refusal. There are, however, a few rabbis who consider the decision of Chief Rabbi Nissim as not justified enough, and have even started a public opposition.I returned only a few days ago from a visit to the United States, where, among others, I took up with representatives of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Communities in America—Rabbi Dr. Weiss and Dr. Lamm—the problem of an Orthodox rabbi necessary for India.I was assured that the Union will see to a subsidy for this purpose. They prefer to have one of the young persons studying in the Yeshiva "Kol Israel" trained for this particular purpose and sent afterwards to India. Chief Rabbi Nissim accepted this idea but insisted that in the meantime another proper candidate be sent to India, since the young rabbi will require at least three years of training.He has now a new candidate for this position, a man who was born in America and has the necessary qualifications to become the spiritual leader of Indian Jewry.The candidate will come both to my office in another few days, and I shall then inform you and the Union of Orthodox Communities in America about my impressions and suggestions.It is not the habit of the World Jewish Congress to interfere with the existing differences of opinion in religious affairs in the various Jewish communities. Since you wrote to Chief Rabbi Nissim about your relations with Mr. Benjamin Ours, he certainly will inform you about his attitude.Our duty is merely to abolish the existing cases of discrimination and to help where our help is necessary in satisfying the religious needs of the…
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Correspondence

Letter from Saul Penkar to Dr. Weiss about the Position of the Israeli Rabbinate on Marriage with Bene Israel (1962)

Dear Dr. Weiss, Enclosed with this are one copy each of the following reports: (1) Budgetary Statement; (2) Receipt and Payment Account for the year ended 1961; (3) Report from Mr. Grossman about the classes; (4) The official receipt for Rs. 500.00. The year 1961 shows a surplus of Rs. 629/-, but if the amounts earmarked for the salary of the Hazzan of the Poona Synagogue, Rs. 1125/- collected for the students of the Bene Israel Yeshiva, and Rs. 53/- collected for the Hevra Kadisha Fund of the Congregation are deducted, it will be seen that there is actually a deficit of Rs. 1212/-.The salary for the classes for the period of July to December 1961 is still outstanding. Our contribution to the camp project remains Rs. 162/-.We are, therefore, left with a small balance of Rs. 500/- in our account, and feel confident that we should be able to collect some more once a meeting with Mr. Grossman can be organized. It may be possible to do so as soon as the weather permits.The classes are held regularly, and the students are taught how to read Hebrew and about Jewish laws and customs. They also sing songs and have discussions about religious topics. This is to replace Oneg Shabbath activities, as Mr. Grossman stays very far from the Synagogues. Similar meetings are being held in other Congregations after the Mincha services.We are grateful to Rabbi Lamm for the most generous offer of a knitting mill here. We shall work hard at it, and by the grace of the Almighty, we shall be able to start something very soon.Rabbi Lamm gave me to understand that my request about books, etc., has been forwarded to you.Mr. Grossman was not very communicative about the students whose travel expenses are to be borne by the JCA. Has the JCA stipulated any conditions for having undertaken to bear the expenses? We would very much like to use some of the Agency teachers in the rural areas.More in my next.With kindest regards,Sincerely yours,(A.D. JHIRAD)EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDr. S.H. WeissExecutive V…
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Letter to Dr. Weiss about the OU's Attitude Towards the Position of the Israeli Rabbinate on Bene Israel and Sending a Rabbi to India (1962)

Dear Dr. Weiss: (1) The enclosed copy is for your records.(2) Your letter to Jhirad was most appropriate. To say that I am dismayed by the information he has sent us from Bombay is an understatement. (3) I have before me the letter to you of April 22nd from Dr. Tartakower. Basically, I think he is right. The “p’sak” by the Chief Rabbi has been given and, as you so well put it, “gazetted.” The problem of the controversy that remains would come into consideration, possibly, if the Union were called upon to officiate at a wedding or openly declare its position. However, this is not the case. All that we are asked to do is to participate in the budget for sending a qualified Rabbi to India. We ought to have sufficient confidence in the Chief Rabbi to do at least this. Frankly, from Jhirad’s letters, from the apparent deterioration in the situation in Bombay, and from information from other sources, the situation is most acute, and nothing less than sending a Rabbi now—not three years hence—will be an adequate solution.To my mind, we ought to inform Dr. Tartakower that we agree in principle, but that the exact nature of our budgetary commitment is as yet undetermined. The Overseas Commission should then make a decision in the matter.Sincerely,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:ffEnd.
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