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Correspondence

Sep. 8, 1969

Marvin Herskowitz to Members of the Study Panel about Meeting on Synagogue Council of America Membership (1969)

Orthodoxy & Other Denominations
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Correspondence

Memoranda to Marvin Herskowitz about Membership in the Synagogue Council of America (1969)

It seems to be the fate of Orthodoxy, at least in this country, that its major battles are fought over matters of little or no consequence. We have allowed truly important matters to be bypassed, and have chosen what are, relatively speaking, trivialities on which to stage our strongest stands. The Orthodox Union, as a more or less centrist group, seems peculiarly afflicted by this penchant for the petty. Once again we are evoking great principles and wasting precious time and risking wounded pride and injured feelings on an issue which is of concern only as a symbol, but unimportant in itself. From everything I have heard about the Synagogue Council of America (SCA), it has a limited scope of activity (how much can an “address” accomplish?). It is not the kind of organization which will seriously affect the destiny of Torah and American Jewry one way or another. I do not by any means wish to depreciate the value of SCA, but it certainly does not appear to me to be worthy of the dissension it has produced in our ranks. We will survive with it, and without it. It is almost farcical how we have succeeded in making iqarim tafel u’tafel iqarim.
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations

Correspondence

Letter from Marvin Herskowitz to the Study Panel with Updates regarding Synagogue Council of America (1969)

To: Study Panel; From: Marvin Herskowitz, Chairman; Subject: Please forgive the informality of this Memorandum, a time-saving device to substitute for personalized letters I really should direct to every member of the Panel. I want to thank you for your participation in our sessions and for the contributions you have made to our collective thinking on the quite difficult problems which the area of our study presents. I deeply appreciate the cooperation you have extended to me throughout the proceedings of the Study Panel.We remained, at our luncheon meeting last Friday, that any member of the Panel who so desires, may submit his written reactions and/or recommendations to the Study Panel. Such written communications will be photo-copied and circulated among the members of the Panel.I shall also endeavor to get the Panel together for one more session, in keeping with the request of several of its members, prior to the next meeting of the Board of Directors. Phone inquiries have, however, established that no such meeting can be called before Labor Day.You will hear from me in the near future.
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations

Correspondence

Letter to Marvin Herskowitz about the Synagogue Council of America (1969)

It seems to be the fate of Orthodoxy, at least in this country, that battles are fought over matters of little or no consequence. We have allowed truly important matters to be bypassed, and have chosen what are, relatively speaking, trivialities on which to stage our strongest stands. The Orthodox Union, as a more or less centrist group, seems peculiarly afflicted by a penchant for the petty. Once again we are evoking great principles and wasting precious time and risking wounded pride and injured feelings on an issue which is trivial.From everything I have heard about the Synagogue Council of America (SCA), it has a limited scope of activity (how much can an address accomplish!). It is not the kind of organization which will seriously affect the destiny of Torah and American Jewry one way or another. I do not by any means wish to deprecate the value of SCA, but it certainly does not seem worthy of the dissension it has produced in our ranks. We will live with it, and without it. It is almost farcical how we have succeeded in making a “yesh me’ayin.”Nevertheless, even insignificant issues must be met if they are thrust upon us against our will. The SCA question has been blown up to unrecognizable dimensions by those who have insisted upon the Union's withdrawal. I have no reason to regret the comment I made some years ago, which seems to have irritated a number of my colleagues, namely, that the demand for secession is a dull, obsessive litany. Indeed, it becomes duller with repetition. It is with considerable reluctance, therefore, that I undertake to set down even these few comments for your consideration.The Study Panel which deliberated on these matters — and SCA was only the most controversial of the so-called “umbrella” groups discussed — performed its task conscientiously and efficiently, at great expense in time and convenience. We heard testimony from a number of distinguished leaders of the community. I personally came to the hearings determined that I wo…
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations