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Correspondence

May 16, 1974

Letter from Dr. Abraham Stern about Counterpoint Australia Planning (1974)

Australia & New Zealand
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Correspondence

Letter from Hans Bachrach to Abraham Stern about Counterpoint Australia Programming (1974)

Dear Hillel, My first name is Hans or Abraham, and I guess we will be seeing each other soon. May I take the liberty of addressing you by your first name, and I hope you will do likewise. It was a particular pleasure to receive your handwritten letter from Chicago, where I hope you enjoyed being with your family. Your writing is clear and I hasten to answer your letter. The intensity of the seminars had been previously communicated to me, and we in Australia had all intentions of dividing the three weeks during which Shalom College is available into three parts. However, owing to difficulties with transport and owing to the fact that there may be great objections to Australian youngsters travelling each way for a full day just to spend four days in the seminar atmosphere, I telephoned Dr. Stern and, after submitting the problem to him, he agreed to reducing the number of seminars in the period to two longer ones. This may also be an advantage, as Australians may take longer to be emotionally involved and to work up enthusiasm.Taking into account various representations which I have received, I now wish to confirm to you that the first seminar will be exactly as you envisaged, except that the departure shall be moved to one day later. This will be balanced by the arrival of the next group one day later, giving you a full 48-hour break, which you requested. In addition, we have planned a full day's outing to the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves, a round trip of 150–200 miles. We had thought of this taking place at the end of the seminar, but Ruthie Casin suggested that it may be better to break the seminar activities towards the middle. Please give us your advice and guidance.As the second seminar starts a day later, it will have to continue to Sunday, 21st, when there is no morning train but an evening train. This seminar can also be broken by possibly two day outings. A visit to a performance of the Opera for this group will be out because of the Three Weeks. Howev…
Australia & New Zealand

Correspondence

Letter from Abraham Stern to Hans Bachrach about Suggested Themes for Counterpoint Australia (1974)

Dear Nans, It was a pleasure hearing from you both on the phone yesterday and by mail this morning. Since Sydney looks like the major site for seminars, I believe we should begin spelling out dates. After meeting with our contingent on Wednesday, I will be in a better position to inform you whether they can all leave the States on June 23. What happens beyond that and how you anticipate using the several weeks at Shalom College is rather unclear to me, since I am not privy to information about arrangements in Melbourne and what your plans are for Perth, Canberra, Auckland, etc.—and stopover plans. I would like to receive a proposed schedule from you.Among the titles for sessions which were discussed with Mr. Ranoschy were the following:* Reward & Punishment* Religion & Belief* Free Will* Challenges to Survival* Concepts of Rest and Relaxation* The Generation Gap* Revelation* Concepts of Repentance* Rationale of Observance* Courtship, Marriage & the Family* Love and Fear of God* \*Jewish Contributions to Society – Giving & Taking* Living by a Moral Code* The Sanctity of Life* Man & His Creator* Israel & the Nations* The Jew Relates to the Non-Jew* Classical Anti-SemitismThese were briefly discussed with Prof. Mono and his committee. They should adopt these titles for some of the subjects in the sourcebooks. Since I will be unable to communicate individually with faculty people, I would appreciate it if Bert reviewed these with his committee and they inform us of the study topics which may be appropriate for your day school and state school youngsters.Concerning your proposed slogans for Counterpoint, each is delightful. Have you discussed these with Arnold Both?I take it by now you have Rabbi Lamm’s statement on the importance of the forthcoming programs.In regard to further publicity, I have asked each of our staff people to make available a biographical sketch, photo, and lecture topics, which we will be mailing to you as soon as they are r…
Australia & New Zealand

Correspondence

Letter from Hans Bachrach to Abraham Stern about Counterpoint Australia Schedule (1974)

Dear Rabbi and Mrs. Bernan, My wife and I feel remiss not having personally replied to the letter which our friend, Dr. Abe Stern, delivered. However, you will be pleased to hear that, whilst our first inquiries proved negative, one source has been discovered which may yield results. Of course, we are delighted to hear that both of you may be leaving New York a few weeks ahead of the group, and if you could make it so as to arrive earlier than the rest in Australia, I would like to show our gratitude and from there assist you in making a more leisurely start.We suggest the following possible routes:(a) Tel Aviv / Singapore / Jakarta to Melbourne, or(b) Tel Aviv / Hong Kong / Jakarta to Melbourne, or(c) London / Tokyo / Taiwan / Hong Kong to Melbourne.On such a routing, you will be able to make one official stop for a few days, whilst the other stops are technical to make connecting flights. We shall try to see, if possible, that you have 12–24 hours at each place.My wife and I would be delighted to have you stay at our house, and we would be happy having you with us at the centre of Melbourne Jewish activities!Please convey our warmest regards. We look forward to seeing you soon.Yours sincerely,
Australia & New Zealand