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Correspondence

May 19, 1970

Letter to Jewish Center Membership with School Board Candidates Endorsements (1970)

The Rabbinate
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Letter to Jewish Center Membership about Proposed Legislation to Regulate Shechita (1962)

Dear Congregant: Your vote is urgently needed to defeat proposed legislation in the New York State Senate. If all of us do not participate, we place ourselves in great jeopardy of not being able to slaughter kosher meat. The proposal of Senator Conklin and Assemblyman Calli places stringent restrictions on the hoisting, shackling, and slaughtering of animals in conformity with traditional Jewish law. It is shocking, indeed, to read proposals made in the legislature of this state which, if adopted, would violate the religious conscience of one-fifth of its total population.The Jewish religion clearly and unambiguously instructs the most humane treatment of animals. The Federal Department of Agriculture could find no inhumanity in the preparation of kosher meat.It is thus doubly shocking that the State of New York should try to enact the most flagrant anti-Jewish and anti-religious legislation under the guise of humaneness.In order to defend our rights as Jews, I urge you to write the following three legislators. You may use the suggested texts or any one of your own choosing.The Honorable Speaker Joseph Carlino Speaker of the Assembly; Albany, New YorkDear Sir:We urge that you use your good offices to oppose the Conklin Bill, because it will directly hamper and curtail the Jewish humane and ritual slaughtering of animals, and will not allow us to practice the freedom of religion guaranteed to us by the United States Constitution. We will not accept the passing of this bill gracefully.The Honorable Senator William T. Conklin Albany, New YorkI, as a Jew, vigorously oppose your bill, because it is directly opposed to the practice of freedom of religion. Your bill is in direct conflict with the teachings and practices of my faith. I appeal to you to withdraw this unfair act. We are entitled to perform, without interference, the ritual and humane slaughtering of animals according to the laws of our religion. We will not accept the passing of this bill gracefully.The Hono…
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Letter to Israeli Dept. of Absorption about Presiding at Wedding Ceremony (1969)

To Whom it May Concern: This letter will serve as an official declaration of intent to preside at the wedding ceremony of Dr. Rafael Kutscher of 36 Palmach Street, Jerusalem, to Miss Carol Bosworth of New York on December 21st, 1969. As an Orthodox Rabbi, I naturally expect, and insist, that the wedding will be completely in accordance with Jewish law, and hence completely acceptable to the Israeli Rabbinate. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.
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Letter to Rabbinic Colleagues about School Board Candidates Endorsements (1970)

Dear Colleague: I am writing to you on an urgent matter of concern to all of us who have afternoon Hebrew schools or children who attend such schools. The School Board elections in our district will take place on May 28th. I assume that you agree with me that we have two major interests in these elections: the civic and the Jewish. We want members who will work for the improvement of our local public schools, the most effective way of bettering the entire complexion of our mixed neighborhood. We also need people who will represent our Jewish concerns.By this latter term I refer to the following issues: seeing to it that no classes or special events are scheduled on Saturdays, Holidays, or Fridays after 4 P.M.; and that no double sessions be scheduled so that classes go on after 3:15 P.M., thus jeopardizing our Hebrew schools.To this end, a group of public-minded members of our community have nominated three candidates, all highly qualified both as public-minded citizens and as committed Jews. They are: Dr. Morris Epstein, Mrs. Ahuvah Genack, and Mr. Aaron Weitz.I urge you most strongly to discuss the matter from the pulpit or announce the names of the candidates and the issues. Many of our colleagues are forming telephone squads to promote their election.Furthermore, I most urgently request of you to mimeograph or xerox the enclosed letter and have it mailed to your entire congregation.I hope we will together be able to contribute to the betterment of our community in general and the protection of our Jewish interests in particular.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL/ekEnclosure
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