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Correspondence

Feb. 21, 1966

Letter from R. Dobrinsky about Lecture on "The Responsible Layman and His Sense of Destiny" (1966)

The Rabbinate
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Letter from R. Dobrinsky about Participating in Shimush Program for Young Rabbinical Students (1966)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: I take this opportunity to once again express to you and your family, my best wishes for 5727. May the New Year bring good health, nachas from family and achievements and exciting opportunities to continue the upbuilding of Torah life in the American Jewish community. Because of the high esteem in which you are held in our Rabbinic Alumni ranks, we are inviting you again this year to participate in the Shimush Program. This course which is being implemented due to the leadership and cooperation of the Yeshiva University Rabbinic Alumni will now, for the first time, be an accredited course toward the Masters Degree in the Department of Supplementary Rabbinic Training at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University. Each participating student will be assigned to a Metropolitan New York area rabbi, as well as to an out of town rabbi. Essentially, in addition to the Sabbath visitation to your community and home, you would be asked to arrange at mutually convenient times, as the occasions arise, for the student to accompany you when you officiate at religious ceremonies. Our first class session, when a student will be assigned to you, will take place on October 14th, 1966. Until then, I really will not know how many students have registered for the program. I am enclosing, for your general information, the letter that was sent to the students, together with an outline of the requirements they must fulfill within the period of one year.It is of prime importance for all participating rabbis to assist us in evaluating the young semicha students by noting their comments on several evaluation sheets which I will send along to you shortly, together with record sheets upon which we would ask you to kindly record that the student did attend services, preach, accompany you at a funeral, unveiling, wedding etc. These record sheets should be returned to my office so that we may provide the student with credit for the Masters Degree when he has com…
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Letter from R. Dobrinsky about Mentoring Ralph Roness for Shimush Program (1966)

Dear Norman שליט"א: Further to our earlier conversation regarding the Shimush Program for Semicha students and your kind acceptance to participate in this project, I am pleased to advise that Mr. Ralph Roness will be calling you to arrange his visit to your community for a Shabbos. Ralph hails from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he graduated from Sir George Williams College. He attended the Lubavitcher Yeshiva and then studied for two years in Israel at the Yeshiva Mercaz Harav Kook. He is now in Semicha I. Ralph is uncertain at this point as to whether he will enter the pulpit rabbinate or chinuch. Mr. Roness' initial visit with you and your family will be to observe congregational services, shiurim, etc., on Shabbos and, while enjoying your hospitality, to discuss with you problems and challenges of the pulpit rabbinate. Hopefully, Ralph will be re-invited by you for a second Shabbos, at which time you might call upon him to actively lead some of the synagogue activities on the Sabbath. It will be helpful to Ralph if you will be able to call upon him to witness any of the religious ceremonies listed on the enclosed outline of our Course SR 123 "Rabbinic Practicum" so that he may gain the experience and accordingly receive credit for each assignment. I am enclosing record slips which we would ask you to kindly send in to us when the student has completed each of the assignments so that our records may be kept up to date. I am also enclosing a general evaluation questionnaire which we would ask you to kindly complete and submit to this office for our confidential study. This will be of great help to the prospective rabbi when we discreetly evaluate his performance. Of course, you may feel free to communicate any constructive criticisms to the young man at any time you deem appropriate. All of us on staff and our entire Rabbinic Alumni express sincere appreciation to you and your wife for your warm understanding and hospitality which will mean so much in the proper…
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Letter from R. Dobrinsky about Mentoring Lawrence Kaplan for Shimush Program (1966)

Dear Norman שליט"א: Lawrence Kaplan, another student in our Shimush program, is most eager to come under your tutelage. It would appear that greatness carries with it such burdens and responsibilites. I do hate to burden you so and I know that it is difficult to find a place for these students for Shabbos, but since there is no substitute for you in the mind of this young man (and in the minds of many others) would you please accept him. Lawrence Kaplan, as you will recall, is one of our stars of our College Bowl Program. He hails from Far Rockaway and is seriously considering a career in the rabbinate, in Chinuch or possibly teaching on a higher level. Since your rabbinate represents all of these areas, we feel it would be a most meaningful experience for him. Please treat this in the same manner as the other student and I am enclosing the necessary materials for our records.With warmest personal regards, I remain,Sincerely yours,Rabbi Herbert C. Dobrinsky Director, Rabbinic Placement Coordinator, Shimush Programhcd/bna enc.
The Rabbinate