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Correspondence

Jan. 26, 1972

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

Gesher Israel
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Correspondence

Letter from Dr. Tropper about Gesher Magazine and Seminars (1971)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Enclosed are a few copies of our new magazine, Keshet B’Anan. Designed to maintain closer contact with our seminarians and participants in the chugim, and to broaden our base among high school youth, this magazine is the first to include both dati and lo-dati youth on its editorial board and to be geared to all Israeli youth. We printed 1500 of the first issue and are distributing them to all Israeli high schools. In reference to your letter to the Prime Minister: I’ve scheduled an appointment with Dr. Burg for next week, will discuss the matter with him, and will keep you informed. It is indeed a long shot, but, then again, one of these long shots are bound to come through. At your suggestion, I’ve taken an interest in the "hippie kibbutz" Kedma, and we are helping to get them started. My experiences there have been, to say the very least, different! I see a great future for them, if they can overcome the initial hurdles which the Agency is placing in their way. I've arranged for shiurim, for a rotating sy^yem among the Americans at Kerem B’Yavne to spend Shabbat there and conduct services, etc. As a matter of fact, the Mandels offered me the position of rabbi, but it’s not quite the sort of "shtele" I'm interested in... Our next youth seminar will be held Choi Hamoed Pesach, and registration is extremely high. Our limit of fifty youngsters will probably compel us to reject at least a similar number. Projected deficit: $1000. Best regards to Mindy and the children. Sincerely, Danny
Gesher Israel

Correspondence

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
Gesher Israel