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Correspondence

Sep. 8, 1971

Letter to Dr. Tropper about Jewish Agency Support for Kedmah (1971)

Jewish Education Gesher Israel
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Letter from Dr. Tropper about Gesher Programming and New Campus (1971)

Dear All, Its been a while since I've written and seen cabinet members and I have quite a bit to report: 1. On Monday Yaakov, Chanan, a few selected madrichim and I sat down for a six hour meeting (to be continued this Tuesday) reviewing the summer seminars and planning coming steps. It was a very healthy and important meeting and a few small but significant changes will be made in the future seminars as a result. 2. On Friday we met once again with the architect Shaked. All final changes were made and now he's beginning the drawing. Since Moshko is still in England and a final choice of a site cannot be made, Shaked will not draw the exact institution but something more or less similar to what he has in mind. Should be ready in 2 weeks. 3. Now a very important item: There have been two developments which have greatly combined to point a slightly new, but very exciting direction for Gesher: a) We have spoken of Gesher thusfar as a program to foster unity within Israel, with the stress on the dati-lo dati problem. However, in recent months the Sefardic-Ashkenazic scism, or better the economic class differences which run roughly along "racial" lines has erupted into a major crisis. Now this issue is very interrelated with the dati problem for many reasons and you can no more speak of unity while ignoring this issue. In addition, a great deal of $$ is being allocated, fer and in long range terms a great more will be, for work in this area. We must get involved. b) Gesher was formed to change attitudes. Theoretically, it would be better to run scores of seminars, each time for new people, however, the seminar kids refuse to let us do this. In 2 recent meetings with the kids we have heard bitter cries that we are ignoring the veterans in favor of expansion. Their claim is that we cannot ignite a new dimension in their life and immediately abandon them. They are right. Willy-nilly, like it or not, Gesher is slowly developing into a youth movement on the line of NCSY. How…
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

Letter from Dr. Tropper with Updates about Gesher (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I have received the copy of your letter to [redacted] and as you requested will use it only with the greatest of caution. Frankly, I have not visited [redacted] in quite a while and am somewhat on the outside at present. There have been a great many developments in Gesher recently. We have had two radio shows on Gesher (Galei Zahali 7 minutes and Kol Yisroel, ½ hour) and an excellent article on Gesher appeared in last week's Maariv lanoar. As our seminars expand, more and more people are beginning to hear about and talk about Gesher. The most exciting thing, however, has been the internal developments within Gesher. Under separate cover I am sending you a carbon copy of my latest "Dear All" letter, i.e. my letters to the newly formed Gesher cabinet. This letter, I believe, will give you a fair idea of where we stand and what we're doing. My very best wishes are extended to you, Mindy and your children for a כתיבה וחתימה טובה. Yours very truly, Danny
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Correspondence

Letter to Dr. Tropper about Recruiting for Gesher (1972)

Dear Danny: It was good seeing you at the King David Hotel shortly before I left. I wonder if you had the opportunity to proceed along the lines we discussed, and what if any the results have been. I have not talked to Chaim yet, and I do not even know if he is in the country. Meanwhile, a thought occurred to me. While I was in Jerusalem, I met an old friend of mine whom I had first met in Johannesburg. He is a man who once studied in Yeshiva, is proud of his background, and even though he is still very far from an observant Jew, he is nevertheless very active in the Johannesburg synagogue. (That is the one where Solomon Fouks had been the rabbi.) I have a feeling that this man, Archie Peck, is just the sort of man who would be interested in Gesher. I believe it would be good if you indicate that someone from South Africa who knew me is willing to lend his name as a reference and that you can write to Peck at his Johannesburg address. In doing so, please mention my name and affiliation with Gesher. He is a very, very wealthy man, and he should be used. His address is P.O. Box 6060, Johannesburg. If you cannot find such a person, let me know and I will decide whether you should use my name directly. I trust that Weingarten’s ad in the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz had a salutary effect. All best regards to your wife. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm
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