Meeting on Eruv with R. Feinstein (1963)

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Memo: Concerning Meeting on Eruv – December 31, 1963

In Attendance: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, with Rabbis Jung, Langer, Jakobovits, and Lamm

We met with Rabbi Feinstein in an attempt to secure his consent not to stand in the way of an Eruv for Manhattan.

He informed us that since there is a difference of opinion amongst the authorities, with the majority in favor of permitting an Eruv in Manhattan, therefore he stands on his original opinion, as published in the "Hapardes," that "one should not protest against those who are permissive in the matter of the Eruv."

We thereupon informed him that our synagogues were prepared to proceed with the announcement of an Eruv on the understanding that he remains with his decision, as mentioned. He was completely amenable to what we said.

We also asked him if other Rabbis and Congregations in Manhattan had the right to block our Eruv by their protest. He said that they could not.

We showed him the original printed announcement of the eruv containing the four "conditions," and he agreed that they were satisfactory.

Sincerely,

Rabbi I. Jakovovits

Rabbi L. Jung

Rabbi N. Lamm

Rabbi S. Langer

Memo on Meeting with Rabbi Aaron Kotler and Rabbi Jakobovits in Lakewood (1962)

We appeared in the Succah of Rabbi Kotler at 12:30 p.m. He immediately proceeded into a "Shiur" on the laws of Eruv for about one hour. He would not allow us to interrupt him and divert him from his dissertation. He was anxious to prove in every way the fact that there was a clear prohibition on the Eruv, in fact a "safek d'oraita." Upon questioning, he admitted that he barely glimpsed at all into the literature printed in "Noam" and the other writings of Rabbi Kasher. As a matter of fact, his conclusions were almost exclusively based upon a reading of the polemics between the "Mishkenot Yaakov" and the "Beth Ephraim."

Eruv

Memorandum Concerning the Eruv (1962)

This past Tuesday, I heard that the Agudath Harabbanim had planned a meeting for Wednesday in which they were to discuss the Eruv. Rabbi Jung, Rabbi Lookstein and I contacted a number of people in order to ward off any unpleasant possibilities. Rabbi Jung spoke to Rabbi Kotler and informed him that any adverse decision by the Agudath Harobbanim would stand to benefit only the Conservative and Reformed. Rabbi Kotler's reaction was not quite clear to Rabbi Jung. Rabbi Lookstein spoke to R. Henkin who seemed to waiver back and forth. Mr. Finkelstein had...Mr. Finkelstein had R. Perotinsky speak to R. Henkin, who agreed to the publication of his announced decision, but wanted to add the fact in print that in view of the Agudath Harobbanim’s position against the Eruv,he would not take the responsibility upon himself. When R. Perotinsky informed R, Henkin that it was too late for any such additions, he seemed to agree that we should go ahead as is. I called R. Feinstein. He emphasized that he was not one of the "matirim," but when I pressed him closely far his views, he replied that whereas he was not one of those mentioned, he was also not #to be counted amongst the "os^rim." He maintained that he stands by his written decision, to wit, that whereas he cannot participate in the commission, those who do pennit the Eruv have sufficient grounds on which to thatbase their decision, and /^ therefore they can be relied upon, except that a "ba/al nefeh” should assume additional restrictions upon himself. He clearly and directly told me that he would not sig! any announcement of "issur.”On Wednesday morning I called Moe Feuerstein in Malbin asking him to intervene with R. Kutler, i.e. not to come to the meeting. He told ne that Samson R. Weiss had more influence on R. Kutler. Dr. Weiss called R. Kutler and informed me that R. Kutler would want, or a delegation of those on our side, to appear and present Aour arguments. When I called R. Cohen of the Agudath Harobbanim asking th…

Eruv

Minutes of Midtown Rabbis re: Eruv - Meeting 1 (1962)

In attendance: Rabbi L. Jung, Rabbi J. H. Moistein, Rabbi H. Lookstein, Rabbi R. Oettinger, Rabbi I. Jakobovits, Rabbi R. Reichel, Rabbi N. Lamm. The meeting was devoted exclusively to the question of the eruv. Rabbi Lamm reported on his contacts with Rabbi Teitz, who entered the picture on behalf of the Agudath Harabbanim as a result of an editorial in Hapardes. The gist of the report was as follows: Rabbi Henkin and Rabbi Feinstein both seemed to be wavering. Rabbi Henkin is completely determined to qualify his consent with the provision of be-sha’at ha-dechak. This is to be accompanied, according to Rabbi Henkin, by a number of items spelling out the nature of the provision. On the day before the meeting, Rabbi Lamm, in the company of Rabbi Y. Besser and Mr. Abba Finkelstein, met with Rabbi Teitz, who implied that it would be unfortunate for the whole question to become involved in politics and that it would have been better to have announced the eruv without any consultation with his organization. Rabbi Teitz said that he did not know what had transpired at the Agudath Harabbanim meeting and that he would have to see the minutes later on. It was agreed that Rabbi Lamm would contact him and thus determine the course of future events concerning the eruv. After the report, Rabbi Moskowitz joined the meeting and answered the questions of the various rabbis. He indicated the desire to have at least ten rabbis of Manhattan – including those of our group – sign a statement of co-responsibility with him. This is primarily a moral issue, as he does not want to act solely in his individual capacity but desires the moral participation of others. It was decided that we would accede to his request. After discussion, it was decided to proceed on our own, announcing the eruv during the third week of June. The Hebrew announcement – which Rabbi Lamm read to the group from galleys corrected by Rabbi Kasher – would be printed and distributed to rabbis. In the Yiddish press, a st…

Eruv