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Correspondence

March 22, 1964

Letters to New and Old Presidents of Congregation Kodimoh (1964)

Kehillat Kodimoh
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Correspondence

Exchange with Dr. Coen about Becoming New President of Congregation Kodimoh (1964)

Dear Dr. Coen: I just received the Kodimoh bulletin this morning and read about your election as President of the Synagogue. Although I am quite busy because of my impending trip this weekend to South Africa, I want to rush to express to you my sincerest and most heartfelt congratulations. I have heard a great deal in the past several years of all the work and service you have done for Kodimoh, and I know therefore that this honor is fully deserved. I am confident that, with the help of God, you will help maintain the high standards of Kodimoh and devote all your energies to that end. I need not tell you that Kodimoh has always been my "first love." However modest my contributions to it may have been, I regard as most important of them the idea that Kodimoh can advance socially, quantitatively, and architecturally without in the least bit sacrificing its religious integrity; that it can be a completely Orthodox Synagogue and yet one of the foremost synagogues in the country. I know that there are those who do not see things in that way. I know, however, that in your hands Kodimoh will remain worthy of the hours and prayers of so many people, and true to its own distinctive loyalties to Torah. Accept, therefore, once again my most heartfelt wishes for a highly successful and distinguished tenure. Mrs. Lamm joins me in these wishes and we both ask to be remembered to Mrs. Coen. I hope to return from Africa at the end of the month, please God. Perhaps if you are in New York shortly after that time, you will let me know and I will be delighted to spend some time with you. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Kehillat Kodimoh

Correspondence

Letter from Kodimoh Congregants Advocating Proposed Changes (1957)

Dear Sir: My friend and I, both Kodimoh members, were visiting the other night. The subject of our Synagogue came up and we discussed a few problems and wondered what the answers were. We wondered what was going on. Since there has been no congregational meeting, and since we do not belong to the Board of Directors, we thought that we would write to you in the form of a ’Letter to the Editor’, and perhaps you would have the information, or better still would refer these questions to the proper individual or committee. We have heard considerable talk about the possibility of building a new edifice – perhaps to compete with the other temples in our community. Everyone would agree that it is high time that Kodimoh took steps to provide adequate facilities for its expanded program. According to the Rabbi’s announcement on Yom Kippur, something is about to be done. Some people apparently question the advisability of continuing in our present form. We do not believe that the seating problem is a real serious one – we would be willing to accept this as a theological question to be settled by the Rabbi. We think, rather, that some changes should be made in the present policy – in order to make the program more interesting. On these past high holidays, we admit, the services were outstanding; the decorum was excellent; the sermons were outstanding; and there were even some English prayers. Why can't we have some English prayers included during the weekly Sabbath services, and on the other holidays. During the recent holiday of Succos, one of us attended - there wasn't one English prayer. Most of us, you know, doA't understand much of the actual meaning of most of the prayers.Ihe same applies to the community singing. We have some on Saturday, sone on the high holidays - but none on other holidays. Why can't we have more? We are singing the same number of melodies to-day as we did twenty years ago. It would seem that the Cantor should get more seriously interested in the mus…
Kehillat Kodimoh

Correspondence

Letter to R. Weisfogel Congratulating Him on Assuming Kodimoh Pulpit (1959)

Dear Alex: While I do not know if it is yet official, I do know that it is final, and I therefore hasten to offer you my warmest congratulations and best wishes upon your election as Rabbi of Kodimoh, a synagogue in which I spent five of my happiest years. Kodimoh has many problems, and it will not take you long to acquaint yourself with them. But there are also great opportunities in Kodimoh – enthusiastic youngsters, eager-to-learn young couples, people groping yet willing to follow. The younger people, especially those connected with the Day School, will bring you great satisfaction and happiness. As for the others – I know that you will meet the challenges and give an excellent account of yourself. If there is anything I can ever do for you, please let me know. – Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm.
Kehillat Kodimoh