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Correspondence

May 25, 1971

Letter from Chaim Billet about Gesher Seminars for Russian Immigrants (1971)

Gesher Israel Soviet Jewry
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Correspondence

Exchange with Dr. Tropper about Gesher Seminar for Russian Immigrants (1971)

Dear Danny: I received your letter on Erev Pesach and was sorry to learn of [redacted]’s stubbornness. Of course, I admire it – but regret it. I hope you can move him at least somewhat, in order that both he and we benefit from the funds available for the Etzion project. Maybe you can persuade him that memorials to the past are meaningful only if they produce something for the present and the future, and that otherwise we mortgage the future to the dead hand of the past. I talked to Chaim who seemed very, very inspired by his visit, but I have not yet had the opportunity of getting details from him. I look forward to getting that in a couple of weeks. My warmest good wishes from household to household.Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Gesher Israel Soviet Jewry

Correspondence

Letter from Chaim Billet with Financial and Organizational Updates for Gesher (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: As per our telephone conversation, allow me to give you a brief summary of Gesher progress in the United States. Finances: In the last twelve months we have solicited pledges and contributions totaling approximately $38,000. This excludes the $10,000 pledge of Mr. Stanley Stern which occurred well before this period. Nine individuals have pledged $1,000 or more, including well-known philanthropists like Mr. Ludwig Jesselson and Mr. Louis Striar. The balance of the $38,000 has come from smaller donations, membership dues, and profits from our various social functions.In addition, Gesher has received grants from various agencies of the Israeli Government, and a grant from the Rothschild Foundation of England. I am requesting a precise breakdown of the nature of these grants from our Israeli office.Organization:We began the building of a broad-based membership organization here in the United States, in September of 1970. Since that time we have attracted 340 dues-paying members and expect to pass the 500 mark by the end of February 1971.A Gesher branch in Los Angeles-Beverly Hills has already raised over \$1,500, and we have firm commitments from Mr. Herbert Joshua to organize a Gesher function in Minneapolis, from Mr. Murray Cohen in Cleveland, and from Rabbi Emmanuel Forman in Toronto.In New York City we have been organizing various types of functions for our membership. The latest of these is the Champagne & Silver affair of last Saturday night which, as you know, attracted hundreds of people and was an unqualified success.We have established liaison with the National Council of Synagogue Youth, with the ultimate ambition to create a junior Gesher for pre-college youth, with NCSY youngsters at the base.In addition, we have made close contact with the Zionist Youth Foundation of America, and are presently negotiating for an office and free secretarial service at the Jewish Agency.All of these activities are being supervised by a very active Gesh…
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

Letter from Chaim Billet about Israeli Ministry of Education Endorsement of Gesher (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: I am enclosing a copy of a letter sent by Deputy Minister Shaki to Mr. Louis Striar. Mr. Striar, who made an annual commitment of $2000 to Gesher, had requested the Ministry's critique of Gesher progress. While such complimentary blurbs are a dime a dozen, this letter amounts to an an official endorsement from the Israeli Ministry of Education and Culture, something which I understand is quite unusual. I am taking the liberty of sending a copy of the letter to Stanley Stern, and trust that you will keep a copy on file for appropriate use. Getting on to other things, I plan to visit Israel in March and will use the opportunity to review Gesher's progress and to plot its future together with Danny. Danny, is especially eager for such a reappraisal, and will be very receptive to constructive criticism. Before I go, I would like to hear your views in greater detail. I'll be happy to meet with you at your convenience, perhaps over lunch one day, to discuss Gesher's future. ?lease let me know if and when you can squeeze me into that infamous schedule of yours. Best regards, ChaimDear Mr. Striar, Dr. Daniel Tropper of the Gesher Foundation has asked me to write to you a critique of Gesher and apprise you of my impressions of their activities. The Ministry of Education regards Gesher as one of the most important new movements on the Israeli educational and cultural scene. A number of their programs have, in fact, received official grants from the Ministry, and this at a time of "belt-tightening" when allocations are not easily granted. These programs include: 1. The Gesher lecture program in High Schools and Kibbutzim 2. The Gesher seminar program for religious and non-religious youngsters at Kfar Etzion (a revolutionary idea in Israel and one which, from the reactions of school principals, I know has met with unusual success). 3. Gesher publications May I add a personal note. When Dr. Tropper first arrived in Israel to begin Gesher, I was somewhat skeptic…
Gesher Israel