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June 6, 1962

Memo Regarding Eruv (1962)

Eruv
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Note

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 Kahhar. 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."We then shifted the matter to more practical considerations. I emphasized that we were not being driven to an Eruv by irate laymen who insisted upon it. Rather, that we want it for the sake of Sabbath observance - and here we presented to him, once again, our entire rationale. I pointed out that the opinion of the general public was that the older rabbis and especially the Roshe Yeshiva were always intent upon adding-er prohibition upon prohibition. Rabbi Kotler countered by accusing them of being Hatskalim." I repeated that, fortunately or unfortunately, this breed hardly exists any more and that, furthermore, I was quite in agreement with the mood of the public.Here was a case where with equal effort sources could be found to grant permission foran Eruv and make life more liveable for Orthodox Jews, but that those who had theauthority seemed to delight in saying "no." Rabbi Kotler was clearly unshakeable in his conclusion, and at the same time unmistakably apologetic and on the defensive in hispresentation, He protested that his hand was forced by other gedolim in Israel andEngland in the natter of the New York board of Rabbis, and that he had specificallydecreed that that "issur" not be publicized.would not need a man of the stature of Rabbi Kotler to devise ways of issuing aprohibition on the Eruvj even lesser light could accomplish that. We had h…
Eruv

Note

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

Correspondence

Letter to R. Kasher about Proposed Eruv Proclamation (1965)

Dear Colleague: At our meeting at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue on November 11, 1965, the undersigned were asked to prepare a proposed Eruv Proclamation which would incorporate all the recommendations of those who met, and which would be issued by the following (in addition to the undersigned): Rabbis Rasner, J. Lookstein, H. Lookstein, Goldstein, Reichel, Jakobovitz, Schneier, and Riskin. We suggest that you study this statement and offer us your comments. After all these years of struggling with the problem, we seem on the verge of a consensus and solution of our dilemma. With the cooperation of all of us, we may yet succeed in a great *Kiddush Hashem*.It was decided at that time too, that our congregations must accept a permanent commitment to finance the Board of *Mashgichim*. It was tentatively proposed to pay about \$2,000.00 a year for this purpose. Whatever is in excess of this sum from the amounts collected will be used for the publication of a volume containing all *responsa* on the subject and whatever other publications appear necessary to explain the *Eruv* to our people and encourage their observance of the Sabbath.We agreed that the enclosed statement would be announced in identical form on the same Saturday, and only from the pulpit. *There is to be no printed announcement or discussion of the subject.*The amounts recommended for each synagogue are as follows:* The Jewish Center – \$500.00* Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun – \$500.00* West Side Institutional Synagogue – \$250.00* Fifth Avenue Synagogue – \$500.00* Congregation Zichron Ephraim – \$250.00* Lincoln Center Synagogue – \$450.00* Congregation Orach Chaim – \$250.00* And if Rabbi Gettinger agrees to join us – the Young Israel – \$250.0As soon as we have your response, we shall call another meeting of our group to finalize matters.**NL/lg**Enc.---**SUGGESTED ERUV PROCLAMATION**The following announcement is authorized by the “Committee for an Eruv in Manhattan” which includes, among others, the R…
Eruv