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Correspondence

March 14, 1969

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Marvin Herskowitz about Synagogue Council of America Membership (1969)

Orthodoxy & Other Denominations
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Correspondence

Memoranda to Marvin Herskowitz about Membership in the Synagogue Council of America (1969)

It seems to be the fate of Orthodoxy, at least in this country, that its major battles are fought over matters of little or no consequence. We have allowed truly important matters to be bypassed, and have chosen what are, relatively speaking, trivialities on which to stage our strongest stands. The Orthodox Union, as a more or less centrist group, seems peculiarly afflicted by this penchant for the petty. Once again we are evoking great principles and wasting precious time and risking wounded pride and injured feelings on an issue which is of concern only as a symbol, but unimportant in itself. From everything I have heard about the Synagogue Council of America (SCA), it has a limited scope of activity (how much can an “address” accomplish?). It is not the kind of organization which will seriously affect the destiny of Torah and American Jewry one way or another. I do not by any means wish to depreciate the value of SCA, but it certainly does not appear to me to be worthy of the dissension it has produced in our ranks. We will survive with it, and without it. It is almost farcical how we have succeeded in making iqarim tafel u’tafel iqarim.
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations

Correspondence

Letter from Marvin Herskowitz to Dr. Belkin about the Synagogue Council of America (1969)

Dear Dr. Belkin: At our recent Convention the incoming Administration was directed to establish a "Study Panel to undertake the ongoing review of the participation of the Orthodox Union in inter-agency organs and to determine in which area independent efforts of the Orthodox Union will be more appropriate to our ultimate purposes." Pursuant to this mandate the Study Panel was appointed and is now functioning. We conceive our task in terms of specific recommendations which will be made concerning organizations the Orthodox Union is now associated with and also in terms of drawing up of criteria to guide future participation in coordinating agencies. Because of the understanding implicit in the Convention Resolution, the study is to encompass the Union's participation in the Synagogue Council of America, the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the World Jewish Congress, and the National Jewish Welfare Board. As the first part of our review process, we are writing to you and other orthodox leaders connected with various religious organizations to solicit written comments on the matters within the purview of our Commission. We trust that you will recognize the importance of the study that is being undertaken and that you will offer us the benefit of your considered judgement. Our Study Panel also intends to conduct, subsequently, and in addition to this written inquiry, oral hearings. Would you kindly indicate in your reply whether you would be willing to give us further oral elucidation and information, if invited. In order not to unduly delay our work and because the Convention directed us to make our initial report before the summer, we respectfully ask you to write to us by Nissan 27 - April 15. We thank you for your participation in our work. Sincerely yours, Marvin Herskowit, Chairman Study Panel
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations

Correspondence

Letter to Marvin Herskowitz about the Synagogue Council of America (1969)

It seems to be the fate of Orthodoxy, at least in this country, that battles are fought over matters of little or no consequence. We have allowed truly important matters to be bypassed, and have chosen what are, relatively speaking, trivialities on which to stage our strongest stands. The Orthodox Union, as a more or less centrist group, seems peculiarly afflicted by a penchant for the petty. Once again we are evoking great principles and wasting precious time and risking wounded pride and injured feelings on an issue which is trivial.From everything I have heard about the Synagogue Council of America (SCA), it has a limited scope of activity (how much can an address accomplish!). It is not the kind of organization which will seriously affect the destiny of Torah and American Jewry one way or another. I do not by any means wish to deprecate the value of SCA, but it certainly does not seem worthy of the dissension it has produced in our ranks. We will live with it, and without it. It is almost farcical how we have succeeded in making a “yesh me’ayin.”Nevertheless, even insignificant issues must be met if they are thrust upon us against our will. The SCA question has been blown up to unrecognizable dimensions by those who have insisted upon the Union's withdrawal. I have no reason to regret the comment I made some years ago, which seems to have irritated a number of my colleagues, namely, that the demand for secession is a dull, obsessive litany. Indeed, it becomes duller with repetition. It is with considerable reluctance, therefore, that I undertake to set down even these few comments for your consideration.The Study Panel which deliberated on these matters — and SCA was only the most controversial of the so-called “umbrella” groups discussed — performed its task conscientiously and efficiently, at great expense in time and convenience. We heard testimony from a number of distinguished leaders of the community. I personally came to the hearings determined that I wo…
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations