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Correspondence

Aug. 6, 1972

Letter from Myron Kaufmann about Orthodox Minyan in Sharon, MA and Raising Funds for Mikvah (1972)

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Correspondence

Exchange with Myron Kaufmann about Publicity for Orthodox Minyan in Sharon, MA (1972)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Thank you for your letter, and for your good wishes for our minyan. After only two months, with G-d’s help, one new Orthodox family has already come into Sharon. We hope it will be the beginning of an influx. There are few places in eastern Massachusetts where a family of moderate means but with children in a non-urban environment will still have access to a halachic minyan. One of the tasks that will confront us for some months to come is continuing publicity at this early stage; many in Greater Boston know little and assume that there is an Orthodox minyan in Sharon, while others are waiting to see if the plant is hardy enough to take root. We spread word of our existence through weekly notices, word of mouth, and week-end guests. We have found, however, that a press release, such as the enclosed one which you saw as a press release and which appeared on the front page of the Jewish Advocate in Boston, is far more effective. I therefore feel it is very important in coming months to place follow-up releases in these same papers. Rabbi Louis Finkelstein of the Conservative Seminary, whose son-in-law was my college roommate and who has been a good friend to me over the years, has also written me a fine letter about our minyan and has consented to have this used if and when it is desirable. If I may, I ask to quote here the short release that I enclose with this letter. It is obvious that our growth will rest as much on the words of friends as on publicity of our making, and your words carry weight as President of Yeshiva and as a Conservative rabbi, both of great standing and both friends of our minyan’s members, is extraordinary good fortune at this time. May I have tentative permission to quote from your letter of May 3 in a news release, subject to my submitting a quotation and release of the release to you for your approval? The passages to quote are: “I took special delight in learning the unusual way in which you have managed to establish an …
Miscellaneous

Correspondence

Exchange with Myron Kaufmann about Starting Orthodox Minyan in Sharon, MA (1972)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I thought you might enjoy seeing a copy of the enclosed press release. It took months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, but with G-d’s help we began the first day of 5700 and have had the minyan every day since. There are many restrictions: each minyan must be arranged ahead, we are forbidden to look for a tenth man within the building, and certain individuals who would be glad to help us are forbidden to act at all. But, membership underlying, so far so good, and every week has brought all the greater matches because of the program’s very fragility. One man, a paralyzed engineer, has already decided that as soon as he is unparalyzed he will move to Sharon — as a result of our minyan. Warmest good wishes, Sincerely, Myron S. Kaufmann.

Correspondence

Letter from Yehoshua Schachter about Donation to Institute for Judaism and Contemporary Thought (1973)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: Many thanks for your letter of April 26th. It is indeed very kind of you to offer us your help and under the circumstances it is very badly needed. Mr. Jesselson contributed 7500 dollars last year, and this is the sum we are seeking. I should add that other donors were much less generous; in general, donations ranged from 1000-2000 dollars. Prof. Fisch and myself still hope you will be able to attend this year's Institute. We would be very happy to meet you again soon. We are rather concerned about the lack of progress in the matter of the Presidency. We still hope things will work out, but unfortunately matters have not been handled the way they should have been.With best wishes,Very cordially yours,Prof. Y. Schachter.YS/vescc: Prof. Fisch
Miscellaneous