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Correspondence

Feb. 21, 1961

Letter to Abraham Jhirad about Priorities Following R. Lamm's Trip to India (1961)

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Correspondence

Letter to Abraham Jhirad about Expanding Educational Opportunities in India (1961)

Dear Mr. ______, I am writing this Letter to you in your capacity as President of _____. As you well know, throughout my three weeks stay in India I have emphasised time and again the need for all of us to expand our educational facilities in order to ensure our survival as Jews. To that end the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America is willing to extend its assistance to the various synagogues through the offices of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of India We shall be working together in a cooperative venture. We wish to encourage you In every way to provide these facilities for both youths and adults.However, it is necessary for the Indian Jews themselves to take the initiative. As I have mentioned in my talks, every synagogue must accept upon itself the obligation to assist in the education of its young. May I therefore respectfully request you to give your complete cooperation to our newly appointed Executive Director and Secretary Mr. A.D. Jhirad. He will be contacting you in an attempt to use the facilities of the synagogue for classes and lectures. If every synagogue will make at least some effort to assist in the programme, we in America as well as in Israel will be glad to do more than our share.For the sake of our people and our Torah I know that you will spare no effort in putting these plans into effect. Please accept my very best personal regards and wishes for success.Sincerely yours.(Rabbi Norman Lamm)
India

Correspondence

Letter from Abraham Jhirad about the English Rabbinate Visit to India and Chazan Expenses (1963)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I thank you for your letter of 24th December, which I found awaiting me on my return from Cochin. I discussed your letter with Mr. Kellman yesterday. He has already written to you in the matter. I personally do not expect that the English Rabbinate could help us much. It would definitely be an important matter if Rabbi Silas came on behalf of the English Rabbinate. I am sure he would be able to achieve much. I have not written to Rabbi Silas as yet. I am thinking about it.Though you feel that financial matters may be best left for last in this case, the point is what can I offer him. If the Fort Synagogue had the money, I would not hesitate. The present Hazan is drawing Rs 320/- and there has been a deficit in the last two years. Notwithstanding that, I have suggested Rs 800/- and I do not see how to raise the figure. Rs 800/- at the commencement may possibly be Rs 1000/- after some time, but this will not help as it seems he needs Rs 1800/- to maintain his position.I shall be glad to hear of Haham Gaon's feeling in the matter, and your meeting with the Overseas Commission of the U.O.J.C.A. In the meantime, if we decide on anything new, I shall write and tell you.With our warm regards and all good wishes,Yours sincerely,
India

Correspondence

Letter to Abraham Jhirad about R. Herschel Schacter's Visit to India (1964)

Dear Abraham: I am writing this letter in a purely personal capacity (because, in the official organizational sense there is so very much to be said). A dear friend of mine and a very distinguished rabbinical leader, Rabbi Herschel Schacter and his wife, will be arriving in Bombay on Friday January 31st (9:15 A.M., AZ 768) and staying until Sunday February 2nd at 6:00 P.M. Because I suspect that they will be staying at the Taj Mahal, I have asked Mr. Manasseh to arrange for the Rabbi’s Shabbat meals, since Mr. Manasseh is closest to the hotel. I wonder if it will be possible for you to obtain the services of some young person (someone who has a car at his disposal will certainly be welcome) who will guide the Rabbi and his wife through some of the more interesting parts of Bombay, most especially things that are of Jewish historical interest. At the same time, it would be good to give Rabbi Schacter a brief, concise, but thorough report on the problems at present pressing on the community, especially the Bene Israel. While he will not have time for any conclusive action, nevertheless he is a man of very wide and profound experience, and it certainly will be worthwhile consulting with him. I am sure that the women will also find Mrs. Schacter to be most charming. Because we are not yet completely sure of whether or not Rabbi and Mrs. Schacter have succeeded in getting reservations at the Taj Mahal, I have asked him to write to you directly, as soon as he has confirmed his hotel reservations. I know that I can count on you to find someone qualified to assist the Rabbi and his wife during their brief stay in Bombay. My fondest regards to Mr. Penkar and all my dear friends in Bombay. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.
India