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Correspondence

Sep. 14, 1967

Letter from Irving Bunim about Meeting with R. Teitz on Soviet Jewry (1967)

Soviet Jewry
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Letter from Jacob Birnbaum about Plans for Soviet Jewry Activism (1964)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, It is now time I let you have a short report of what has been happening here since our Lower East Side Rally, which was our fifteenth “action” (Oct. 18). We have sponsored an all-New York campus course, two big campus rallies, given several lectures, are in the process of setting up an important spearhead in Boro Park, and are preparing for several more campus meetings in the next few weeks. Practically all the campus leaders have been trained by me. I am frequently asked for guidance and materials from all over the country. I have just spent a few days in an important region outside N.Y. where I outlined a systematic program for the coming months culminating in a community-wide effort at the beginning of May. My efforts were concentrated in three directions: the adult community, the universities, and the youth groups, for each of whom I shaped up programs.If I had the means and the time, I could do this in many other areas. But I am tied down by the most elementary chores. True, small monies are coming in, and by saving on an office and secretarial assistance, expenditure is covered with a little left over. This is a ridiculous situation considering our great potential as a movement of awakening, particularly among young people. Despite all the talk, the alienation of the campus from Judaism is very great, yet my experience around the world in recent years has proven to me that there is now present an underlying potential which can be roused, shaped, and crystallized.Both in the case of our young people and even more in regard to Russian Jewry, opportunities have now opened up before us which will leave us with a great burden of guilt if we pass them by.I wrote to Rabbi Tibor Stern of Florida asking him to become an Honorary Patron with a view to getting some help from his wealthy contacts at a later stage, but there was no reply. Perhaps you could talk to him. In a phone conversation a couple of weeks ago, you were good enough to promise to look …
Soviet Jewry

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Letter to Members of New York Conference on Soviet Jewry on Convening Meeting (1970)

An important joint committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 24th, at 1:00 P.M., at the offices of the NCRAC, 55 West 42 Street, Room 1530. There are some crucial decisions that must be made. Your attendance is urged and urgent. RSVP: David Geller PL 1-4000
Soviet Jewry

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Letter to Rabbinic Colleagues Inviting Them to Meeting on Soviet Jewry (1970)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: You might be interested to know that we have gotten together as representatives of various campuses in the New York area to establish a committee which will work on behalf of Soviet Jewry. Our purpose is not to compete with existing organizations, but to supplement them. The enclosed minutes of our first meeting should explain what we stand for and what kinds of activities we plan to encourage. We plan to be in touch with you and to seek your advice. We hope that you will volunteer whatever help you can give us. It will be greatly appreciated.Sincerely yours,The University Community for Soviet Jewry---MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FOR SOVIET JEWRYOn June 1, 1970, representatives from a number of New York campuses got together to organize a committee whose purpose shall be to stimulate and coordinate activities on behalf of Soviet Jewry. Present at the meeting were representatives of the following campuses: JTS, CCNY, Queens College, YU, Teacher’s College. We hope that in the future every New York campus will be represented.This committee, tentatively named the University Community for Soviet Jewry, shall concern itself primarily with activities on the various campuses in the New York area.It is NOT our purpose to compete with existing organizations or to duplicate their work. Rather, we wish to supplement their endeavors and be active in areas they are not. We will coordinate our activities with theirs and promote their projects when possible. To this end, we have appointed a liaison — Benjy Lunzer (CCNY) — whose duty it shall be to maintain constant contact with these organizations.The following is a list of projects and proposals we will attempt to initiate and carry out:Composing of flyers and their distribution on campuses, directed at making the Jewish students aware of, and concerned with, their Jewishness in general and the problem of Soviet Jewry in particular. Each campus leader shall attempt to formulate the text of said flyer so as…
Soviet Jewry