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Correspondence

Sep. 12, 1963

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Ms. Zimmerspitz about the Need for Bene Israel Hebrew Teachers Fluent in Maharati (1963)

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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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Letter from Dr. Weiss to Haham Gaon Suggesting Use of Sassoon Funds to Maintain Israeli Rabbis in India (1963)

Urgent to ascertain possibility of Sassoon funds and similar Indian funds participating in project by maintaining Rabbis in India. Shall appreciate early reply. Regards. Weiss
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Letter from Dr. Weiss to R. Warhaftig about Rabbinic Training for Bene Israel Student and R. Gotthold's India Visit (1963)

Dear Dr. Wahrhaftig: Mr. Max Stern, the distinguished Chairman of our Overseas Commission, received a letter from the Kol Torah Yeshiva in Jerusalem, dated Tammuz 9, in which he is informed that a student from Bombay has reached the conclusion of his studies at this institution. He should now be trained as a Shochet, Mohel and Sofer. The Hanhalah of Kol Torah recommends that the young man now undergo appropriate training through courses sponsored by either the Sochnut or the Misrad Hadatoth. As you surely know, our Overseas Commission and Mr. Stern, personally, are deeply interested in this student and in the other Bene Israel students whose coming to Israel has been due in some measure to efforts initiated by us in India. We shall deeply appreciate all possible assistance your Ministry can extend to this young man, so that he may undergo the proper training. His return to India upon the completion of his training will bring great benefits to the Bene Israel community.Yesterday morning, I spoke to Rabbi Gotthold in Bombay. We had received no direct reports from him since he left London on May 26th. Last week, in quick succession, two cables arrived, the first one asking for an additional $1,000, and the second one, two days later, announcing the termination of his mission due to our uncooperativeness. Since we knew that no other rabbis had joined Rabbi Gotthold in India, we were unable to understand the sudden need for additional funds. According to Rabbi Gotthold's initial and in our opinion rather high cost estimate, the first $1,000 we sent him should have been sufficient for at least two months of his maintenance.Rabbi Gotthold told me on the phone that he is utilising local persons instead of the expected rabbis and that he must pay their expenses. He assured me that he would send a detailed report to Mr. Stern. In my letter to him of today, I again pointed out the absolute need for detailed reports, including information on the persons he is employing. I trus…
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