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Correspondence

Nov. 19, 1971

Letter of Gratitude to Gesher Leadership for Gift (1971)

Gesher Israel
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Letter from Chaim Billet with Financial and Organizational Updates for Gesher (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: As per our telephone conversation, allow me to give you a brief summary of Gesher progress in the United States. Finances: In the last twelve months we have solicited pledges and contributions totaling approximately $38,000. This excludes the $10,000 pledge of Mr. Stanley Stern which occurred well before this period. Nine individuals have pledged $1,000 or more, including well-known philanthropists like Mr. Ludwig Jesselson and Mr. Louis Striar. The balance of the $38,000 has come from smaller donations, membership dues, and profits from our various social functions.In addition, Gesher has received grants from various agencies of the Israeli Government, and a grant from the Rothschild Foundation of England. I am requesting a precise breakdown of the nature of these grants from our Israeli office.Organization:We began the building of a broad-based membership organization here in the United States, in September of 1970. Since that time we have attracted 340 dues-paying members and expect to pass the 500 mark by the end of February 1971.A Gesher branch in Los Angeles-Beverly Hills has already raised over \$1,500, and we have firm commitments from Mr. Herbert Joshua to organize a Gesher function in Minneapolis, from Mr. Murray Cohen in Cleveland, and from Rabbi Emmanuel Forman in Toronto.In New York City we have been organizing various types of functions for our membership. The latest of these is the Champagne & Silver affair of last Saturday night which, as you know, attracted hundreds of people and was an unqualified success.We have established liaison with the National Council of Synagogue Youth, with the ultimate ambition to create a junior Gesher for pre-college youth, with NCSY youngsters at the base.In addition, we have made close contact with the Zionist Youth Foundation of America, and are presently negotiating for an office and free secretarial service at the Jewish Agency.All of these activities are being supervised by a very active Gesh…
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

Letter to Dr. Tropper Praising Articles about Gesher (1971)

Dear Danny: I just read through the article In Maariv and also your "dear all" letter and find all of it quite exciting. I think we are beginning the "break-through" that I had been urging and hoping for all this time. The very polarization that now exists, and that we are dedicated to minimizing, should at least make responsible people in Israel conscious of the fact that we have a great deal to offer and that we are therefore deserving of public (governmental) support. Thank you for your שָׁנָה טוֹבָה wishes. Mindy and I wish you, your wife, your family and co-workers Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
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Correspondence

Letter from Ahava Gross about Gesher Foundation Sukkot Seminar (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Enclosed please find the latest "Dear All" letter from Daniel. It speaks for itself in terms of the success and enthusiasm of the latest Gesher projects. Hoping that this finds you well and having enjoyed a pleasant Yom Tov. Sincerely, Ahava Gross, Gesher Foundation. Dear all, You have not received a letter from me in about three weeks only because of the unusual work load which we have been carrying. However, it has all been worth it because we’ve just scored a grand success on top of the summer success. B'li Ayin Hara things are proceeding so very very well for us in the last few months. Before getting to the Sukkot seminars I must tell you about the Yom Iyun which we had in Tichon Boyar in Jerusalem on Friday, Erev Shabbat Shuva. The Yom Iyun was for the entire school -600 students- in 2 shifts. First the Freshmen and Sophomores heard a lecture by Rabbi Chaim Brovender. They then broke up into 20 kvutzot diyun led by 20 volunteer madrichim from Mercaz, Yeshivat Hakotel and Heb. U. Halfway thru the workshops the Junior and Senior classes listened to a talk by Chanan and then as the first group ended workshops the second group began led by the same team of madrichim. Each group then came together for a summation and amazingly enough one girl got up and said just about word for word the quote which appears in the last Jcr Latter in the name of the girl from Kfar Saba. Over three quarters of the madrichim succeeded and the administration seemed quite satisfied, we will probably receive a thank you letter from them shortly. One of the lessons learned from this experience is not to conduct a Yom Iyun for so many kids--the workshops end up too large and the 2 shift system leaves too little time for successful workshops. In about 3 weeks we’ll be having another one for the junior or senior class in the Gymnasia in Rechavia--we hope to cover a substantial portion of all lo-dati tichonim here in Jer in the course of the year. Now to the Sukkot seminars, T…
Gesher Israel