Letter to R. Klaperman about Advocacy for Dr. Schapira's Emigration from Soviet Russia (1972)

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Letter Advocating for Dr. Schapira's Emigration from Soviet Russia (1972)

Dear David: I’d like to invite you to join me in a dvar mitzvah – and one that is urgent and pikuach nefesh. The enclosed letter is one I received from a Russian Jew who spent 27 years in Siberia, and is now trying to get his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter out of Russia. The letter is self-explanatory. We have to help, and I’d like it to be done as soon as humanly possible if we’re to be of any assistance. First, call Western Union or RCA and send off the following telegram (a night-letter os cheapest) to: 1. Ambassador Dobrynin, USSR Embassy, Washington DC; and 2. Minister of Interior, Moscow, USSR JUSTICE AND DECENCY DEMAND PERMISSION FOR DR. BENJAMIN SCHAPIRA AND FAMILY OF BELGOROD OBLASTNOI TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILY IN ISRAEL. URGENTLY IMPLORE YOUR INTERCESSION. PROF. NORMAN LAMM Ask the telegram people to send you copies of the cables as soon as possible.

Soviet Jewry

Letter to Chairman Kosygin Advocating for Dr. Schapira's Emigration from Soviet Russia (1972)

Dear Mr. Kosygin: I take the privilege of sending you enclosed a copy of a telegram that I recently sent to President Nixon and Secretary General Waldheim on behalf of a large number of colleagues and friends. We are all of us concerned about the fate of Dr. Benjamin Schapira of Belgorod. I implore you in the name of decency and compassion, as well as the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to which your country is a signatory, to allow Dr. Schapira and his family to emigrate to Israel and be reunited with his old and sick parents. Certainly a great power like the U.S.S.R. will not suffer if it will allow one family to be reunited and allow an old and sick father and mother to have their one great dream fulfilled, that of seeing their children once again.Respectfully yours,Rabbi Norman LammNL:cwEnc.

Soviet Jewry

Letter to Lawrence Kobrin about Advocacy for Dr. Schapira's Emigration from Soviet Russia (1972)

Dear Mr. Kobrin: I am genuinely pleased at your warm response to my request to help affect the release of Dr. Beniamin Schapira of Belgorod so that he can be reunited with his parents in Tel Aviv, Rabbi and Mrs. Joseph Schapira. I am enclosing the copy of the telegram which should be signed by as many people as possible, that is, I would like you to obtain permission from as many people as possible to sign, and I will send it from my office.In compiling the list, I would suggest that all those with acadmic and judicial titles should be placed first. I wonder if you would be kind enough to ask either Larry or Ira Kellman or Al Kleiman (the K.K.K...) if they could help in obtaining the signatures of Lindsay or Garelik or other such dignitaries.If, in the course of your telephone calls anyone should volunteer funds, please accept them cheerfully. I have so far borne the cost of cables, quite a few, by myself, and with this rather lengthy one we are planning, it would be good if I had some assistance. Frankly, it does not amount to too much, so I would not solicit anyone, but accept if offered.All my warmest thanks to Mrs. Kobrin who, I know, will as usual be extremely effective in helping you.Cordially,Rabbi Norman LammNL:cw Enc.

Soviet Jewry