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Correspondence

June 5, 1961

Letter from Dr. Weiss to R. Gotthold about Purchasing Tefillin for Bene Israel

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Correspondence

Letter to R. Gotthold about Securing Tefillin for Indian Jews (1961)

Dear Rabbi Gotthold: Let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the assistance you so graciously offered during my week in the Holy Land. The enclosed letter to Mr. Jhirad, the coordinator of our activities in Bombay, will speak for itself. I trust that you will give him every assistance in the matter of the Tefillin and in the placement of the three young men in the two Yeshivoth.Regarding the Tefillin, I obtained something more than a half promise from Bet Aryeh that he would go along with us on the arrangement. I suggest that you work on him either directly or through Tomashov.The young man you sent to my uncle's home to be interviewed by me for Calcutta, Abraham David, promised to notify you of his decision no later than March 1st. I am most anxious that we get someone for this post. Please do keep us informed about developments on this matter.Correspondence on all substantive matters should be directed to Dr. Samson R. Weiss at the UOJCA, 84 5th Avenue, New York 11, N.Y.Finally, let me remind you about our discussions concerning a regular column by you for "Tradition". We are most anxiously looking forward to receipt of the manuscript for the first appearance in the new column. It should be in my hands no later than May 15th.With thanks once again.Sincerely yours,Rabbi Norman Lamm
India

Correspondence

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Abraham Jhirad about Becoming Executive Director of UOJCI in India and Tefillin Requests (1961)

Dear Mr. Jhirad: Thank you for your letter of December 22nd. We were happy to learn that you will assume the post of Executive Director on January 1, 1962, and we extend to you our warmest congratulations and best wishes for the utmost success. As far as your remuneration is concerned, we agree to a salary of $160.00 per month (or Rs. 258 per month, whichever is more). We believe it is important that you take a continued leave of absence for a long period, and the above salary would maintain your present standard. We shall endeavor to trace the lost books and, in the meantime, send you 5 copies of the Code of Jewish Law in English. I have inquired by wire to Israel concerning the Tefillin but, so far, I have received no answer. Kindly inform me whether any Tefillin arrived from Israel and if so when and how many.Now that you have received, among the books we sent you, our youth manuals, your request for plays contained in your previous letter can be answered very simply. In these manuals plays are found as follows:Purim Manual - Pages 24 and 28Shabbat Manual - Page 102Chanukah Manual - Pages 17 and 46Pesach Manual - Page 37Shavuoth Manual - Page 24Yomim Noraim Manual - Page 32We do not have a special manual on plays but we are considering putting such a manual together.Mr. A. D. JhiradDecember 28, 1961I look forward to receiving from you the budgetary statement at your earliest convenience.With kindest personal regards and all good wishes, I am very sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. WeissExecutive Vice PresidentSRW/sdMr. A. D. JhiradJt. Hon. SecretaryU.O.J.C.I.c/o Magen Hasidim Synagogue8 Morland RoadBombay 11, India
India

Correspondence

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…
India