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Correspondence

Feb. 12, 1973

Letter to Charles Bendheim about Jewish Center Annual Mikvah Contribution (1973)

The Jewish Center
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Exchange with Charles Bendheim about Jewish Center Annual Mikvah Contribution (1972)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: The writer wishes to refer to his letter to you of April 14, regarding your pledge of an annual contribution of $1,000.00, as an ongoing contribution for the maintenance of our Mikvah on West 78th Street. As you were advised at the meeting at the home of Mr. Bendheim on April 11, the funds are sorely needed, and you indicated that we can normally expect the above amount as a lump sum by Rosh Hashanah of each year. To date we have not received any monies honoring your pledge, and in view of the need for funds at this time, I would appreciate if you could arrange to forward a check to the attention of the writer. Thanking you for your cooperation, and with kindest personal regards, Very truly yours, C. H. Bendheim
The Jewish Center

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 to Jewish Center Membership with Urgent Mikvah Appeal (1975)

Dear Member: Please give this your utmost attention. It is simply too important to ignore. For the last ten years we had been very proud of the new facilities which have housed our Midtown Mikvah. We have had every reason to be happy with it. However, the community has unfortunately neglected this extremely vital part of our communal life. We are sorry to tell you that the Mikvah (under the name “Jewish Women’s Club”) finds itself in severe financial difficulties – threatened with mortgage foreclosure and with lawsuits on our obligations. Unless these will immediately be funded, the community stands to lose the Mikvah to its creditors, who will take it over in the near future. We can hardly imagine a more disastrous comment on the Jewish community of the West Side – on the dozens of thousands of Orthodox synagogues. Certainly, we cannot permit that to happen. Last year we raised funds from many, amongst others. Despite generous giving, it was not sufficient to meet our needs. Obligation to the Mikvah falls upon you immediately, since we are all equally responsible. If not for our family life, then for our wives and children and the many users of the Mikvah. We urge you, with all the sincerity at our command, to immediately make available to the trust fund of 510 West End Avenue (make all checks to “Jewish Women’s Club” and mail to the enclosed envelope). Please, please do not delay, lest we actually lose the Mikvah. Sincerely yours, Moses L. Green, Rabbi Norman Lamm, Rabbi Leo Jung
The Jewish Center