Letter from Haham Gaon about Difficulties Finding a Rabbi for India (1962)

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Exchange with Haham Gaon about Recruiting Rabbi and Proposed Takkanot for India (1961)

My dear Rabbi Lamm, Herewith I am sending you the Tekanot as suggested for the communities of India. As you will see I only introduced a few changes and both Rabbi Sassoon and Rabbi Adess agreed with these changes. I am now awaiting for your report on India as well as for the results of your intervention with the Lubavitcher Hassidim in connection with the appointment of a Rabbi for India. I have no doubt that until and unless a Rabbi is appointed in that continent there will be no assurance that a religious life will develop. Please will you also tell Rabbi Weiss that I was very glad to receive a copy of the letter to the Rabbi in Tel Aviv urging him to make a decision Bene-Israel. The decision is of great importance because I feel that Bene Israel will be leaving the Orthodox camp and joining that of Reform and Conservative Jewry and one indeed will not be able to blame them if they do so. I am sending also a copy of these Tekanot to Rabbi Weiss.With all best wishes,Sincerely yours.Solomon GaonHaham.

India

Letter from Haham Gaon about Forming Indian Beth Din and Gittin (1961)

My dear Rabbi Lamm, I was very glad to receive your communication as well as your enclosure of the letter from Mr. Benjamin. Our Beth Din our now considering this letter and will be in direct contact with Mr. Benjamin and will keep you advised of what we are doing. I shall be writing to you shortly in connection with the proposal for the reorganisation of the Beth Din in Calcutta and Bombay. We are also considering the Gittin that you have sent us and we shall be sending the copy of our own Gittin to the Communities of Calcutta and Bombay and we shall also send him the whole of the procedure and the way in which the Gittin should be given. I am hopeful that I shall see you soon and please convey to Rabbi Leo Jung my best respects.With all best wishes to you and your family,Sincerely yours,Gaon.Haham.

India

Letter from Haham Gaon to Haham Gaon about His Rulings for India, Israeli Reticence to Join R. Gotthold's Mission, and the Need for a Rabbi (1963)

I am in receipt of your letter as well as the enclosures of Rabbi Gotthold. As I wrote to you in my previous letter, I felt that many of the accusations made against Rabbi Gotthold were not justified. I have known him for some time and he always left a very good impression on me. There is no doubt that the man was let down, not only because nobody was to be found to go with him from England, but because the Rabbi who was to accompany him from Israel refused to go at the last moment. I think that is something that ought to be put right before any other delegation goes to India. In my opinion, it was unpardonable for the Rabbi who had promised to go from Israel to try and back out at the last moment, and it was because that Rabbi refused to go that Dayan Grossnass also refused to allow any Rabbi from the Beth Din to accompany Rabbi Gotthold and thus make his task easier.

India