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Correspondence

Oct. 19, 1971

Letter from Ahava Gross about Gesher Foundation Sukkot Seminar (1971)

Gesher Israel
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Letter from Dr. Tropper about Gesher Magazine and Seminars (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Enclosed are a few copies of our new magazine, Keshet B’Anan. Designed to maintain closer contact with our seminarians and participants in the chugim, and to broaden our base among high school youth, this magazine is the first to include both dati and lo-dati youth on its editorial board and to be geared to all Israeli youth. We printed 1500 of the first issue and are distributing them to all Israeli high schools. In reference to your letter to the Prime Minister: I’ve scheduled an appointment with Dr. Burg for next week, will discuss the matter with him, and will keep you informed. It is indeed a long shot, but, then again, one of these long shots are bound to come through. At your suggestion, I’ve taken an interest in the "hippie kibbutz" Kedma, and we are helping to get them started. My experiences there have been, to say the very least, different! I see a great future for them, if they can overcome the initial hurdles which the Agency is placing in their way. I've arranged for shiurim, for a rotating sy^yem among the Americans at Kerem B’Yavne to spend Shabbat there and conduct services, etc. As a matter of fact, the Mandels offered me the position of rabbi, but it’s not quite the sort of "shtele" I'm interested in... Our next youth seminar will be held Choi Hamoed Pesach, and registration is extremely high. Our limit of fifty youngsters will probably compel us to reject at least a similar number. Projected deficit: $1000. Best regards to Mindy and the children. Sincerely, Danny
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

Letter from Ahava Gross about Radio Broadcast Transcript on Gesher Foundation (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: Enclosed please find a transcript of a recent radio broadcast on the Israeli Army radio station. The participants in the interview were Dr. Daniel Tropper, our Israeli director; Yaacov Boyer, a Gesher field director; as well as several young people who took part in Gesher Seminars. We hope that you will find this both interesting and enjoyable. Very truly yours, Ahava Gross. Dr. Tropper: Gesher is an organization which was founded two years ago with the purpose of bridging the gap between the religious and the secular communities in the State. We are convinced that the bridge can be built only upon the foundations of Judaism. I speak here of Jewish values not so much as of Jewish observances. Judaism is the heritage of all of us and it represents the unifying factor for Israel.Announcer: A seminar was recently held at the field school in Gush Etzion in which the opportunity was given for religious and non-religious youngsters to come together. The organization sponsoring it is called GESHER. Concerning this organization we are hearing from Dr. Tropper, the head of the organization and from Yaakov Boyar, the program coordinator.Dr. Tropper: The main thrust of our work is among youth and we organize a variety of activities for them.Yaakov Boyar: Our operations are based upon two premises. Firstly, we base ourselves upon the desperate situation which exists in the country between religion and the people, between the Jews and Judaism, and between the religious and non-religious populations. Everyone agrees the situation is not good, each from his own point of view. One claims it is not good that we have religious coercion. One claims that it is not good that we have anti-religious coercion. We claim that it is not good that people speak about coercion at all. We want to bring about a bridging of the gap very simply- by understanding and dialogue. Let everyone do what he wishes to do but if we understand each other there will be fewer points of contenti…
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Correspondence

Letter of Gratitude to Gesher Leadership for Gift (1971)

Dear Chaim and Dan: Although I thanked you orally when you gave me the gift of the painting by [hebrew], I want to put into writing the profound feelings of gratitude by my wife and myself as well as all our children. It is only after I came home and viewed the painting from a distance, that I realized how stunningly beautiful it is. It is so expressive and so meaningful, esthetically as well as personally, that we will treasure it and hope to cherish it for many years to come. As I told you, it was really unnecessary to do anything of this sort for me. My feelings for Gesher is both ideological and personal, with no thought of מתן שכרה בצדה Nevertheless, your gesture is something I deeply appreciate from every point of view. Anything more I can say will be superfluous; hence, just the two words - "Thank You." Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Gesher Israel