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Correspondence

Feb. 9, 1962

Letter from Abraham Jhirad to Dr. Weiss about OU Budgetary Statement for India (1962)

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Letter from Dr. Weiss about OU Expenses for Indian Jewry (1962)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: Thank you for your letters of July 5th and 16th. I enclose my letters to Mr. Kelman and Mr. Jhirad. I am sending you an extra copy of my letter to Mr. Jhirad so that you may send it on confidentially to Mr. Kelman if you deem it advisable. You speak of my vacation. This vacation is scheduled to begin on August 12th. My absence from the city was caused by another visit to the fair city of Los Angeles, which was blessed with beautiful weather—making my hard work there not at all easier, with everyone around me in vacation spirit.As you see, I have not mentioned in my letter to Mr. Kelman any credit to the Union. I would rather assume it as self-understood than raise the issue.In your letter of July 5th, you want me to clarify the financial problem I touched upon in my letter to Mr. Jhirad. I do not quite know to what you refer, though you pointed out the paragraph. We had agreed that you and I, upon your return to New York, would try to raise about \$1,000 for the Magen Aboth Holiday Home, by soliciting 20 people for \$50.00 each.The Overseas Commission had agreed to pay the trip of three students to Israel, provided that they are maintained there by the Jewish Agency and that these three students are added to the six being presently sent and maintained by the Jewish Agency. Dr. Jung moved to this effect at our meeting, and it was unanimously adopted.I expect to speak to Rabbi Kotler either tonight or tomorrow morning. I shall write you where he will stay and when you could visit him. He usually is at Lederman’s in Fleischmanns, which should be about one hour’s car ride from your place, on the other side of the Catskills (the Tannersville–Hunter section).I do hope that in spite of your voluminous correspondence you are enjoying some rest and that you are applying to yourself the kind admonitions you gave me—namely, not to work hard and long.With kindest personal regards and all good wishes, I amVery sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. WeissExecutive Vice P…
India

Correspondence

Letter from Abraham Jhirad to Dr. Weiss about OU Expenses for Indian Jewry (1962)

Dear Dr. Weiss, I thank you for yours of June 25, 1962, and I am glad the matter about my assumption of duties as Executive Director stands corrected. The budget for the camp led by the Grossmans was to be fully covered. However, my remarks as to the contribution by the Union were particularly directed with this idea in view that the Union should always share in such expenses. For example, when the Agency has a target figure of Rs. 6000/- and they expect to collect about Rs. 2000/- from the participants, the total number of participants that can avail of the opportunity cannot be more than 200. A contribution by the participants @ Rs. 30/- barely covers Rs. 300/-, and if the Union asks the Agency to accept 10 more persons, it will not help.The other expenses also will have to be shared accordingly. The Union will have to accommodate the 10 extra persons. It means the Union will have to offer an additional sum of Rs. 300/- to make the above possible. However, this season has passed.Before the next, we propose to invite applications from youth who desire to participate but cannot avail of the facility for lack of funds. We will work it out with the Agency, the final figure, and then advise you accordingly.With regards to the training of students in Israel for the Teachers' course, I shall enquire from Mr. Grossman, and on receipt of his reply shall communicate with you.Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of IndiaC/o Magen Hasidim Synagogue, 8 Moreland Road, BOMBAY-11, IndiaMr. Kelman never made any suggestions for the improvement of the magazine, nor has he so far sent any articles for publication. I sincerely wish Mr. Kelman had made official reference to the UOJCI than to have cribbed to you about it without any warning to us.With kindest personal regards,Yours sincerely,EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDr. S. R. WeissExecutive Vice PresidentUOJC
India

Correspondence

Letter from Abraham Jhirad to Dr. Weiss about R. Gotthold's India Visit and Relationship with OU (1963)

Dear Dr. Weiss, Your letter of July 3 together with the cheque for $500.00 was delivered to me on Sunday the 14th, at a time when we were intrigued about the prolonged silence. The official receipt will be forwarded as soon as I have the Bank's confirmation. I shall endeavour to the best of my ability to make as detailed a report on the activities of Rabbi Gotthold as possible. I do not want to be misunderstood when I say that Rabbi Gotthold has so far carried on most of his business independent of the Union. Right from the date of arrival, (even the arrival was not intimated to us in advance) the Union Officers seem to have been allocated the insignificant part of silent watchers. He could not be received/welcomed as were the other dignitaries, nor conducted any place excepting a few Synagogues, where he attended either the Sabbath eve or Shaharith services and delivered sermons. He has dealt with a few cases of divorce and conversion, but who referred the cases to him or who were the parties involved, we have no knowledge. The cases from Bombay, Thana, Poona and Ahmedabad were mostly of those persons, who were registered to immigrate to Israel and were recommended by the Jewish Agency through the Synagogues (all conservative except Ahmedabad) or the individuals concerned. A lecture arranged by the Jewish Women's Council at the Jewish Club and a series of lectures (of which the first was scheduled at MIS) by the Torah and Hebrew Education Sub-Committee of the Bombay Zionist Association had to be cancelled at the last minute because, it is understood that the Consul-General for Israel instructed the Rabbi not to make any Public appearances, even at Synagogues.When Mr. Penkar and I met the Rabbi for the first time, we had communicated Rabbi Lamm's desire that the Union should have a Lay Beth Din formed. He could instruct the members of the Beth-Din in the right way to deal with religious problems, especially conversion and divorce, to train a good sopher in the hala…
India