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Correspondence

June 19, 1962

Letter to R. Jakobovits about Reading Material for Article on Eruv (1962)

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Correspondence

Exchange with R. Jakobovits about Proposed Eruv Proclamation (1965)

Dear Colleagues, Many thanks for your draft of the proposed “Eruv Proclamation” which I have now read with great care. While it is well written and cogently argued, it does not quite represent the “compromise” I had in mind when I suggested we each go half-way to meet the other’s position. I was prepared, for my part (and, I believe, with Rabbi Langer’s concurrence), to withdraw the opposition to a pulpit statement affirming the validity of the Eruv, if on your part you would agree (at least pending any wider rabbinical consortia) to word your statement so as not to discourage people who never carried until now from availing themselves of the Eruv. Your reference in this context to the “pedagogic and psychological” consideration of children appears to me entirely meaningless in practice as well as in principle. Is carrying to be limited to adults, or is the institution of the Eruv to be taught only or especially for “pedagogic and psychological reasons”? It really cannot resolve the ambivalence of this clause. In accordance with what I had in mind, therefore, as a reasonable distinction between our respective views, I am attaching some draft amendments to your statement in the hope that they may conduce to a more unanimous and acceptable formula. With all my hesitation about the timing or urgency of such public action, I would at least be satisfied that we have all made some substantial concessions to reach agreement. Sincerely,
Eruv

Correspondence

Letter to R. Jakobovits about Support for the Upper West Side Eruv (1964)

Dear Manno: I talked privately with Rabbi Teitz about the Eruv meeting we had. It seems we made a quite favorable impression. However, he confidentially informed me that it is important to keep up the pressure on several individuals. He talked about it to Rabbi Jung, who arranged for Rabbi Langer to work on Rabbi Feinstein. Rabbi Teitz maintains it is important to keep in contact with Rabbi Kaminetsky as well. None of us really knows him. May we ask you to arrange to meet with him and press our claims? I think if we do this we may have eased the way for the Eruv.Do you think we ought now to speak with Rabbi Steinberg and Berenfeld in anticipation of a successful conclusion to our meeting with the Agudath Harabbonim?Sincerely,RABBI NORMAN LAMM
Eruv

Correspondence

Letter to R. Kasher about Proposed Eruv Proclamation (1965)

Dear Colleague: At our meeting at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue on November 11, 1965, the undersigned were asked to prepare a proposed Eruv Proclamation which would incorporate all the recommendations of those who met, and which would be issued by the following (in addition to the undersigned): Rabbis Rasner, J. Lookstein, H. Lookstein, Goldstein, Reichel, Jakobovitz, Schneier, and Riskin. We suggest that you study this statement and offer us your comments. After all these years of struggling with the problem, we seem on the verge of a consensus and solution of our dilemma. With the cooperation of all of us, we may yet succeed in a great *Kiddush Hashem*.It was decided at that time too, that our congregations must accept a permanent commitment to finance the Board of *Mashgichim*. It was tentatively proposed to pay about \$2,000.00 a year for this purpose. Whatever is in excess of this sum from the amounts collected will be used for the publication of a volume containing all *responsa* on the subject and whatever other publications appear necessary to explain the *Eruv* to our people and encourage their observance of the Sabbath.We agreed that the enclosed statement would be announced in identical form on the same Saturday, and only from the pulpit. *There is to be no printed announcement or discussion of the subject.*The amounts recommended for each synagogue are as follows:* The Jewish Center – \$500.00* Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun – \$500.00* West Side Institutional Synagogue – \$250.00* Fifth Avenue Synagogue – \$500.00* Congregation Zichron Ephraim – \$250.00* Lincoln Center Synagogue – \$450.00* Congregation Orach Chaim – \$250.00* And if Rabbi Gettinger agrees to join us – the Young Israel – \$250.0As soon as we have your response, we shall call another meeting of our group to finalize matters.**NL/lg**Enc.---**SUGGESTED ERUV PROCLAMATION**The following announcement is authorized by the “Committee for an Eruv in Manhattan” which includes, among others, the R…
Eruv