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Correspondence

Jun. 23, 1969

Letter from Marvin Herskowitz to the Study Panel with Updates regarding Synagogue Council of America (1969)

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Correspondence

Letter from Marvin Herskowitz to Dr. Belkin about the Synagogue Council of America (1969)

Dear Dr. Belkin: At our recent Convention the incoming Administration was directed to establish a "Study Panel to undertake the ongoing review of the participation of the Orthodox Union in inter-agency organs and to determine in which area independent efforts of the Orthodox Union will be more appropriate to our ultimate purposes." Pursuant to this mandate the Study Panel was appointed and is now functioning. We conceive our task in terms of specific recommendations which will be made concerning organizations the Orthodox Union is now associated with and also in terms of drawing up of criteria to guide future participation in coordinating agencies. Because of the understanding implicit in the Convention Resolution, the study is to encompass the Union's participation in the Synagogue Council of America, the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the World Jewish Congress, and the National Jewish Welfare Board. As the first part of our review process, we are writing to you and other orthodox leaders connected with various religious organizations to solicit written comments on the matters within the purview of our Commission. We trust that you will recognize the importance of the study that is being undertaken and that you will offer us the benefit of your considered judgement. Our Study Panel also intends to conduct, subsequently, and in addition to this written inquiry, oral hearings. Would you kindly indicate in your reply whether you would be willing to give us further oral elucidation and information, if invited. In order not to unduly delay our work and because the Convention directed us to make our initial report before the summer, we respectfully ask you to write to us by Nissan 27 - April 15. We thank you for your participation in our work. Sincerely yours, Marvin Herskowit, Chairman Study Panel
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations

Correspondence

Letter to Marvin Herskowitz about the Synagogue Council of America (1969)

It seems to be the fate of Orthodoxy, at least in this country, that battles are fought over matters of little or no consequence. We have allowed truly important matters to be bypassed, and have chosen what are, relatively speaking, trivialities on which to stage our strongest stands. The Orthodox Union, as a more or less centrist group, seems peculiarly afflicted by a penchant for the petty. Once again we are evoking great principles and wasting precious time and risking wounded pride and injured feelings on an issue which is trivial.From everything I have heard about the Synagogue Council of America (SCA), it has a limited scope of activity (how much can an address accomplish!). It is not the kind of organization which will seriously affect the destiny of Torah and American Jewry one way or another. I do not by any means wish to deprecate the value of SCA, but it certainly does not seem worthy of the dissension it has produced in our ranks. We will live with it, and without it. It is almost farcical how we have succeeded in making a “yesh me’ayin.”Nevertheless, even insignificant issues must be met if they are thrust upon us against our will. The SCA question has been blown up to unrecognizable dimensions by those who have insisted upon the Union's withdrawal. I have no reason to regret the comment I made some years ago, which seems to have irritated a number of my colleagues, namely, that the demand for secession is a dull, obsessive litany. Indeed, it becomes duller with repetition. It is with considerable reluctance, therefore, that I undertake to set down even these few comments for your consideration.The Study Panel which deliberated on these matters — and SCA was only the most controversial of the so-called “umbrella” groups discussed — performed its task conscientiously and efficiently, at great expense in time and convenience. We heard testimony from a number of distinguished leaders of the community. I personally came to the hearings determined that I wo…
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations

Correspondence

Marvin Herskowitz to Members of the Study Panel about Meeting on Synagogue Council of America Membership (1969)

The Study Panel members met, with all members present, on Thurs, Elul 21-Sept. 4. The following unanimous decisions were reached: (1) The Study Panel is in no position to make any recommendations on any of the roof organizations other than the SCA, having had no time to study their respective structures and operations and the role the UOJCA does and should play in them. (2) Concerning the SCA, the Study Panel did not reach any unanimity, nor did any preponderance of opinion develop which could be labeled a consensus, concerning the advisability of the UOJCA's continued membership in this body. In the clear absence of such unanimity or consensus, no vote was taken.Instead, it was unanimously agreed that two members of the Panel, namely Rabbi Ralph Pelcowitz and Mr. Lawrence A. Kobrin, should be entrusted with writing a joint précis of the written communications received by the Study Panel and of the oral testimony heard by it, embodying into this synopsis the cogent points on both sides of the argument which impressed the members of the Study Panel as having weight and merit.To this précis, Rabbi Pelcowitz and Mr. Kobrin will add their individual positions, covering such points which in their opinion were not sufficiently clarified or were not touched upon at all by the written or oral testimony.This précis is to be submitted to the Board of Directors, in lieu of a recommendation, so that the members of the Board may have sufficient material for a well-informed, intelligent choice, it being the unanimous opinion of the Study Panel that the Convention Resolution which calls for the Study Panel also calls for action by the Board of Directors. Thus, the Board of Directors should vote, after having received the précis, whether or not the UOJCA should continue its present membership in the Synagogue Council.With this summary, I consider the function of the present Study Panel ended. I want to thank all members for their efforts and cooperation and the remarkably high lev…
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations