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June 21, 1962

Memorandum Concerning the Eruv (1962)

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Note

Memo Regarding Eruv (1962)

Today, June 6, 1962, at noon, I called Rabbi Teitz and asked him what had transpired concerning the eruv. He informed me that the minutes of the meeting of Agudath Harabbanim had not yet been transcribed and requested that I postpone any further discussion for another ten days because of the imminent marriage of his daughter. I countered by suggesting that he, on behalf of Agudath Harabbanim, postpone the matter indefinitely – i.e., that his organization take no action, so that we would be free to proceed as we had desired. He replied that we ought to cons to a re moral arrangement whereby!Rabbi Eldberg may do as he wishes in his journal, but he, Rabbi Teitz, would see to it that the Agudeth Harabbania sakes no statement to the prose.It was clearly implied, though it was not explicitly stated, that thia was a *Go-Ahead* signal to our group to proceed at once towards the establishment of the Sruv.Rabbi Ka ah ar before leaving for Tarsal, suggested the fallowing arrangements concerning 8ruv supervision! Balbi Moakowits should receive ?1,200.00־ ard Ratal Parotinsky about 1800.00. Rabbi Roginsky, if ha joins the ODOKnitlM, should receive in ths vicinity of £600.00׳ (perhaps a bit less).Norman Lammcc: Rabbi Jung
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Assorted

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…
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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…
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