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Correspondence

July 25, 1960

Letter from R. Charles Weinberg to Dr. Weiss about Conflict with the Conservative Community in India (1960)

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Letter from R. Charles Weinberg to Dr. Weiss about Conditions in the Indian Jewish Community (1960)

My Dear Dr. Weiss: I am here now three days. I can’t begin to tell you the story of India, I could already fill volumes. I am somewhat depressed by the general scene in Bombay, but the Jewish community is a very painful experience to behold. They are really a darling community. Enthusiastic, warm and possessed with a tremendous thirst for knowledge. Since I have arrived I have been working 18 hours a day. I have had about six committee meetings, 4 private sessions and I delivered lectures at 4 public gatherings. Thank G-d in the public gatherings I have made quite an impression on them. In the private meetings and committee sessions, and they are long, I am attempting to lay the ground work for a formal organization of a U.O.J.C.I. I have brought together the Iraqi leadership and the B’nai Israel and thank G-d succeeded in having them agree to a Union which will take in the Iraqi congregations and the B’nai Israel. Also a council of 5 men will be established to whom all matters involving ? and מקוה will be referred for them to contact either the Rabbinate of Israel, or the Chief Rabbinate of England or us in America.So far 9 congregations have agreed to join representing about 10,000 of Bombay’s 15,000 Jews. One of Mr. Benjamin’s friends attended one of my lectures and when it was through he said "it looks as though you have begun to scrap the United Synagogues of India". If these congregations go through with what we have planned Mr. Benjamin will be left with a few small prayer halls.Now comes the real problem. These people are suffering of the worst poverty I have ever seen. Families of 7 and 8 live in one room. It’s simply heartbreaking. Religiously they are very enthusiastic but are completely ignorant. It’s a terrible situation. We must find someone at least a teacher to come over here, at all costs, this is a real need. 15,000 Jews without a rabbi and without a teacher.To combat the influence of the Conservatives and Reform, we must help them organize and th…
India

Correspondence

Letter from Dr. Weiss to Mr. Kelman about Sending a Rabbi to India (1962)

Dear Mr. Kalman: Thank you for sending me the copy of your letter to Rabbi Norman Lamm, dated July 27, 1962. Rabbi Lamm and I discussed the subject matter of your communication and, since Rabbi Lamm is still on his vacation, I take the liberty of replying. We are most hesitant to agree to a procedure which would involve the collection of funds by an individual for the purpose of sending a rabbi to India. The reasons are obvious and even under the best of circumstances, the choice of the rabbi and his future relations to the responsible organs of the Jewish community would be open to grave questions. We agree, therefore, wholeheartedly to your suggestion to Mr. Menashe not to write to Rabbi Halberstein.To the best of our information, Chief Rabbi Nissim is presently not inclined to send a rabbi to India. His feelings have been understandably bruised by the violent attacks directed against him by some members of the Bene Israel community in recent months. Still, we believe, people close to him should impress upon him that the situation calls not so much for the in principle very justified protection of the dignity and authority of the Chief Rabbi and the Chief Rabbinate, but for a great deal of forbearance and statesmanship.Possibly the plan you outline in your previous communication to the effect that a qualified rabbi be sent periodically to India, for one or two months twice a year, to take care of Gittin and kindred problems, would be acceptable to Chief Rabbi Nissim. The Orthodox Union, through its Joint Overseas Commission, would, of course, cooperate financially.With kindest regards and all good wishes, in behalf of Rabbi Lamm, I amVery sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. WeissExecutive Vice PresidentMr. I. KalmanThe Jewish AgencyP.O.B. 1979Bombay 1, INDIA
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Letter from Dr. Weiss to R. Charles Weinberg about the Visit of Israeli Rabbis to India (1963)

Dear Rabbi Weinberg: Yesterday evening, Mr. Max Stern returned to New York, having spent some time in Israel. While there, he put in a great deal of work on India and arranged for Rabbi Gotthold to go to India for a period of six months. He also arranged that an Israeli Rav would go to India for a shorter period, to take care of Gittin, etc. Rabbi Laces told me that Mr. Stern would give him within the next few days a memorandum on all these arrangements. Upon receipt of this memorandum, we must of course advise the UOJCI of the impending visits and make sure that they cooperate. While the inclination of the Bane Israel is to be suspiciously hostile to Israeli representatives, I personally feel that their attitude will undergo a change for two reasons. Firstly, the very fact that visitors come instead of their being treated and judged in absentia will show them that there is a positive attitude. Secondly, since these arrangements were initiated by the Chairman of our Overseas Commission, of whose sympathy and cooperation they are so deeply aware, the rejection of these visitors would disturb the relations between the UOJCI and us. I do not think they would want that to happen.Under the present circumstances, though, it appears that a visit from here, and especially one of so short a duration, would not be advisable. This is the opinion of Rabbi Lamm and Mr. Stern, in which I concur. Let me add that I see great purpose for a visit of at least four weeks, to coincide with the first few weeks Rabbi Gotthold will be in India. When you will peruse the correspondence I gave you, the reasons will be surely quite obvious to you.Thanking you very much for your cooperation and willingness to give us again so much of your energy and time, I amWith kindest personal regards and warmest Shabbos wishes,Very sincerely yours,DR. SAMSON R. WEISSSRW/sdRabbi Charles Weinberg35 Lillian RoadMalden 48, Mass.
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