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Correspondence

Dec. 27, 1962

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Mrs. Meyer about Logistics for Max Stern's Visit to India (1962)

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Correspondence

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Max Stern about His Donation to the Indian Jewish Community (1961)

Dear Mr. Stern: Enclosed please find copies of my letters to India and to Israel, in keeping with my recent memorandum of Sivan 18. I learned from Rabbi Lamm of your generous contribution of $250.00 for the salary of the Chazan in Panvel and the $700.00 contribution for the Tefillin which you were good enough to obtain. Since the money brought by Rabbi Lamm to India for Tefillin cannot be sent from there to Israel, due to Indian Valuta regulations, I am arranging for the transfer of these monies for other purposes. Thus, for instance, your contribution of $250.00 is already available to our friends in India for the Panvel Chazan. Since Mr. Saul Bernstein, the Administrator of the Orthodox Union, will be leaving next week for Israel, he will arrange for the payment of the Tefillin to the Ministry of Religions. This way, we will get a course of IL 2.16 per dollar, instead of IL 1.80.I will permit myself to call you on Thursday to find out whether you are available for a meeting of our Overseas Commission on Wednesday, June 21st.With many thanks for your generous support and with kindest personal regards, I amVery sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. Weiss Executive Vice President8RW/sd Inc.Mr. Max Stem 1 West 81st Street New York 24, N. Y.
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Correspondence

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Mr. Kelman about Sending a Rabbi to India (1962)

Dear Mr. Kalman: Thank you for sending me the copy of your letter to Rabbi Norman Lamm, dated July 27, 1962. Rabbi Lamm and I discussed the subject matter of your communication and, since Rabbi Lamm is still on his vacation, I take the liberty of replying. We are most hesitant to agree to a procedure which would involve the collection of funds by an individual for the purpose of sending a rabbi to India. The reasons are obvious and even under the best of circumstances, the choice of the rabbi and his future relations to the responsible organs of the Jewish community would be open to grave questions. We agree, therefore, wholeheartedly to your suggestion to Mr. Menashe not to write to Rabbi Halberstein.To the best of our information, Chief Rabbi Nissim is presently not inclined to send a rabbi to India. His feelings have been understandably bruised by the violent attacks directed against him by some members of the Bene Israel community in recent months. Still, we believe, people close to him should impress upon him that the situation calls not so much for the in principle very justified protection of the dignity and authority of the Chief Rabbi and the Chief Rabbinate, but for a great deal of forbearance and statesmanship.Possibly the plan you outline in your previous communication to the effect that a qualified rabbi be sent periodically to India, for one or two months twice a year, to take care of Gittin and kindred problems, would be acceptable to Chief Rabbi Nissim. The Orthodox Union, through its Joint Overseas Commission, would, of course, cooperate financially.With kindest regards and all good wishes, in behalf of Rabbi Lamm, I amVery sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. WeissExecutive Vice PresidentMr. I. KalmanThe Jewish AgencyP.O.B. 1979Bombay 1, INDIA
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Correspondence

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Max Stern about R. Gotthold's Report on Indian Jewry (1963)

Enclosed please find a copy of Rabbi Gotthold's report, received this morning, together with the copies of pertaining press statements and correspondence which he enclosed. Rabbi Gotthold's reference to our failing him in London is unfortunate. Here, for your information, are the facts: The first we heard of Rabbi Gotthold's presence in London was through a wire we received on Wednesday, May 22nd in which he informed us that he is departing on Sunday, May 26th for Bombay and in which he requested $1,000. After consultation with your good self and Rabbi Lamm, I replied by wire that he should call Rabbi Lamm collect on Thursday morning, May 23rd, in view of information received that public protests were planned for his arrival. Rabbi Gotthold did not phone as requested. Thereupon, I sent a second wire on Thursday recommending that he proceed only after phone consultation with Dr. Wahrhaftig whom we also informed by wire of the situation. The wire concluded as follows: "PLEASE WIRE IMMEDIATELY DECISION REACHED WILL THEN CABLE FUNDS." On Friday, May 24th, Rabbi Gotthold phoned Rabbi Lamm and informed him that he had decided to proceed to Bombay. Accordingly, we immediately cabled $1,000 to Rabbi Gotthold. I can see no failure in this procedure. It appears to me from Rabbi Gotthold's report that it was known to him while still in London that Rabbi Kushelevsky would not come to India. In any event, he did not inform us until now about his efforts to obtain in Europe a non-Israeli rabbi to join him in India.Dear Rabbi Weiss, Herewith I confirm our telephone conversation of last night and the receipt of your cable of July 11, signed by Max Stern. At present, I have no time to enter into argumentation and I rely on your commitment that I shall not be left stranded again without funds as was the case when you failed me in London. As I told you on the phone, I assumed that you are receiving reports about my activities here from your Local Executive Secretary, Mr. Jhirad. I sh…
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