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Correspondence

Jan. 23, 1975

Letter from R. Joseph Lookstein to Barry Eisenberg about Financial Support for the Mikvah (1975)

The Jewish Center
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Correspondence

Letter from R. Joseph Lookstein to Charles Bendheim about Mikvah Financial Distress (1971)

My dear Charlie: I have your letter of April 27th, 1971, a copy of which you sent to all the Rabbis in the neighborhood. It is regrettable that in our affluent area, a Mikvah has to undergo such hardship. Neighborhoods, far poorer than ours, somehow found a way how to construct a Mikvah and how to maintain it properly. I lay the blame on all of us. I mean the Rabbis, who are so extremely busy with a variety of matters that, in the language of the Bible, "they tend other gardens but neglect their own vineyard". Now you have a problem on your hands and you are entitled to relief and to assistance. I am especially mindful of the fact that you offered to make a gift of $5,000 in order to be relieved of carrying the burden further all by yourself. I think this is a generous intention on your part and I, for one, will be happy to see you implement that intention with the conditions that you set. How shall we go about preserving the institution of Mikvah in our area? I think that we ought to make one grand effort and assemble, in your home, the Rabbis and a number of lay people who are interested in this matter. I am sure that we can find a way of making these repairs, amounting to $16,000, by increasing the mortgage on the Mikvah property. I think that by doing that, we can also include the debt that is due to the Wurzweiler Foundation, a debt which was incurred on good faith and goodwill. I am further sure that the total debt, plus the maintenance of the Mikvah proper, could then, and should then, become the responsibility of the Rabbis of the neighborhood and of their synagogues. I, for one, together with my son, will do our best to carry our share of the responsibility, and even more. Please convene a meeting as soon as possible. Before long, the summer will set in and all of us will be departing, and the matter will again be neglected. Thank you for bringing this to my attention and be assured of my every cooperation. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein
The Jewish Center

Correspondence

Letter from R. Joseph Lookstein about Meeting Regarding the Mikvah's Financial Distress (1971)

My dear Norman: We are all busy people. But busy people always find time when they so desire it. I beg you to find time for a meeting that I am calling, and which will take place on Monday, May 24th, at 8:30P.M., at the home of Mr. Charles Bendheim, 101 Central Park West. The matter that I would like to bring before you is a very urgent one. It has to do with the one Mikvah that we have in our entire area - from the Lower East Side up to Washington Heights. It is regrettable that this fundamental institution of Jewish life is struggling for existence in our community. I am sure that all of us are anxious to save it and to secure it for the future. That is the reason for the meeting - to consult with you and to decide with you what should be done. Please indicate on the enclosed card that you are planning to attend and I thank you in advance for your affirmative answer. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein
The Jewish Center

Correspondence

Letter to Simon Greenspan about Fundraising for Mikvah (1972)

My Dear Mr. Greenspan: Permit me to bring to your attention a communal problem of the greatest urgency. You are no doubt cognizant of the crucial importance for Jewish life, of the institution known as Mikvah. Normative Jewish family living and the initiation of proselytes into Judaism are impossible without a functioning Mikvah. Furthermore, in order to make sure that this introduction to Jewish life is appealing rather than repelling, it is of the utmost importance that this facility be as attractive and aesthetic as possible. The only Mikvah between the Lower East Side and Washington Heights is the one on West 78th Street, which goes under the name of the Jewish Women’s Club. This facility was built only a few years ago at great expense for Jews of mid-Manhattan. We now face two critical problems – 1. A good part of the Mikvah is in a state of disrepair and it is necessary for us immediately to invest considerable sums into putting it in order. 2. We must assure community support for the regular maintenance of the Mikvah. To that end, the major Orthodox synagogues (and some Conservative synagogues as well) of Manhattan have agreed to provide $10,000.00 per year, minimum, for maintenance of the Mikvah. It is our hope that this kind of ongoing commitment will solve our major problems, and allow the Mikvah to operate for the benefit of the entire Jewish community, in a manner of which we can all be proud. I discussed the matter with my dear colleague, and your distinguished rabbi, Rabbi Kahane, and he quite naturally and enthusiastically approves of our activities. May I therefore, most respectfully, urge you, Mr. Greenspan, as a President of an important Orthodox synagogue on the West Side, to make every effort to prevail upon your congregation to join its sister congregations in our community, in this sacred endeavor. Do be kind enough to let me hear from you at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm
The Jewish Center