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Correspondence

May 24, 1974

Letter to Max Stern, Morris Green, and Lawrence Kobrin about Convening Emergency Mikvah Meeting (1974)

The Jewish Center
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Letter from R. Joseph Lookstein about Meeting Regarding the Mikvah's Financial Distress (1971)

My dear Norman: We are all busy people. But busy people always find time when they so desire it. I beg you to find time for a meeting that I am calling, and which will take place on Monday, May 24th, at 8:30P.M., at the home of Mr. Charles Bendheim, 101 Central Park West. The matter that I would like to bring before you is a very urgent one. It has to do with the one Mikvah that we have in our entire area - from the Lower East Side up to Washington Heights. It is regrettable that this fundamental institution of Jewish life is struggling for existence in our community. I am sure that all of us are anxious to save it and to secure it for the future. That is the reason for the meeting - to consult with you and to decide with you what should be done. Please indicate on the enclosed card that you are planning to attend and I thank you in advance for your affirmative answer. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein
The Jewish Center

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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

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Letter to Samuel Kramer about Danger to Mikvah (1975)

Dear Mr. Kramer: Something has just come to my attention which may involve the Jewish community in great difficulty, and which you can help us avoid. As you know, we recently built a new Mikvah on West 78th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. I have now learned that an adjoining building, which now houses the Moreno Institute, has been acquired or leased for an organization called Bridge, Inc., which is an outpatient clinic for mentally unbalanced people. According to my information, this organization will be open both by day and night, and will therefore clearly constitute a serious danger to unprotected and unaccompanied women who must use our Mikvah in the evenings. If we do not alert the City or State authorities in time to the effect that this new facility will have a deterrent impact upon existing facilities, I can well-foresee, Heaven forbid, the abandonment of the Mikvah by the largest number of its present users. I believe that your friendship with Mayor Beame can be of great help to us at this time. The institution is funded partly by the State, but mostly by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Welfare. I do not have any more details, and should they be necessary, they may be best obtained from Mr. Charles Bendheim. Whatever you can do in this respect will be deeply appreciated by all members of the Jewish community. My warmest regards to Mrs. Kramer. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
The Jewish Center