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November 3, 1969

Report of the Study Panel (1969)

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Correspondence

Memorandum from Dr. Schick about the Synagogue Council of America (1968)

As much as many of us would like it to go away, the problem of Union membership in the Synagogue Council is still with us. The reason for this is plain: the issue goes to the heart of Orthodox unity and development in this country; it is not an irrelevant polemic that the foes of SCA continue to wave. In this memorandum I would like to develop the view that continued membership in SCA is inimical to the welfare of the UOJCA and the Orthodox Community and that our leadership must face up to this question, at the convention or otherwise, in a responsible and courageous fashion. 1. SCA was formed in the 1920’s at a time when Orthodox Jewry in this country was weak. Indisputably, if the question today was whether to join, our response would be negative, for the situation is much improved over what it was forty years ago. Yet, we are being told to confront the challenges of the latter third of this century in terms of an enervated Orthodoxy of more than a generation ago. We reject this attitude in other areas such as Chinuch, and we ought to do the same here. 2. From its inception until now the SCA has not contributed in any way to the observance of Halacha or to the general welfare of the Torah world. The proponents of continued membership do not controvert this, nor do they advance any positive reasons for the maintenance of a status quo which is contrary to the changing situation of Orthodox Jewry. The virtues of belonging to SCA are negative, amounting, in fact, to straw men easily knocked down, and to fears that are born out of a lack of confidence in Orthodox vitality.3. But the case against SCA does not rest on the mere inefficacy of this antiquarian umbrella. The organization, even with the Orthodox veto, has acted contrary to our interests, as in the quickly forgotten Boston conference of last year. Indeed whenever the SCA decides to do something more than issue pro forma statements on public matters it is apt to act counter to our conception of its purpose. So…
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

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

The Study Panel members met, with all members present, on Thurs, Elul 21-Sept. 4. The following unanimous decisions were reached: (1) The Study Panel is in no position to make any recommendations on any of the roof organizations other than the SCA, having had no time to study their respective structures and operations and the role the UOJCA does and should play in them. (2) Concerning the SCA, the Study Panel did not reach any unanimity, nor did any preponderance of opinion develop which could be labeled a consensus, concerning the advisability of the UOJCA's continued membership in this body. In the clear absence of such unanimity or consensus, no vote was taken.Instead, it was unanimously agreed that two members of the Panel, namely Rabbi Ralph Pelcowitz and Mr. Lawrence A. Kobrin, should be entrusted with writing a joint précis of the written communications received by the Study Panel and of the oral testimony heard by it, embodying into this synopsis the cogent points on both sides of the argument which impressed the members of the Study Panel as having weight and merit.To this précis, Rabbi Pelcowitz and Mr. Kobrin will add their individual positions, covering such points which in their opinion were not sufficiently clarified or were not touched upon at all by the written or oral testimony.This précis is to be submitted to the Board of Directors, in lieu of a recommendation, so that the members of the Board may have sufficient material for a well-informed, intelligent choice, it being the unanimous opinion of the Study Panel that the Convention Resolution which calls for the Study Panel also calls for action by the Board of Directors. Thus, the Board of Directors should vote, after having received the précis, whether or not the UOJCA should continue its present membership in the Synagogue Council.With this summary, I consider the function of the present Study Panel ended. I want to thank all members for their efforts and cooperation and the remarkably high lev…
Orthodoxy & Other Denominations