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Correspondence

March 26, 1962

Letter to R. Jung about Proposed Legislation to Regulate Shechita (1962)

The Rabbinate
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Correspondence

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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Correspondence

Letter to R. Holzer about Proposed Legislation to Regulate Shechita (1962)

Dear Manny: The Jewish Center this week sent out requests to the entire membership to write to the Assembly and Senate concerning Shechita legislation, as you will notice in the enclosed sheet. I would like to ask you to do Rabbi Jung and me a favor. A certain Mrs. Wilhelm Schupp, 322 Central Park West, New York 25, N.Y., is a strong proponent of the Conklin Bill. She is, however, an open-minded person (a Jewess married to a liberal Lutheran). She has informed Rabbi Jung that if the merits of the opposition to Conklin can be explained to her, she will be glad to take up the cudgels on our behalf.Both Rabbi Jung and I would be grateful to you if you could contact her and, very briefly, in a personal meeting, explain to her our reasons. If this is impossible, could you mail to her all the relevant material explaining our point of view?My very best to your wife.Sincerely,Rabbi Norman Lammcc: Rabbi Jung
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Correspondence

Letter to Moses Feuerstein about Synagogue Council of America Deliberations on Shechita (1963)

Dear Moe: Enclosed please find the photocopy of the Synagogue Council of America deliberations on Shechitah which you asked to have returned to you. The problem is obviously acute and decisive, but I must refrain from offering any opinion simply because I do not know enough about the matter. I have not been involved in these questions, and therefore do not believe that I am sufficiently competent to pass judgment. Thank you for sending the note to Zalman Posner in Tennessee. I wrote to him son time ago and have not heard from him as yet. Warmest regards. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm
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