Dear Mr. Soskis: I’m glad we were able to meet, exchange ideas and find out more deeply about NYANA’s work. Based on yesterday’s discussion and our growing work with the increasing number of community-based groups helping Russian Jewish immigrants, I’d like to put down in writing what we perceive to be some of the needs of Russian Jews in New York. A. English. Although it is true that a good number of Russian Jews would rather find a job than learn English when they arrive, NYANA should explain to them that proficiency in English leads to better jobs and that such an opportunity to learn English without having to work at the same time will probably not exist again for them. Private language instruction, cheaper than the public school type, seems much superior (smaller classes, more keyed to need to know technical language) should be made available to all who ask, even to those who have first tried a public school course and found it wanting. (Here you can involve volunteers who are needed to help immigrants practice English once a basic knowledge of the language is acquired. Volunteers don’t know the language well?, both by personal meetings and by three or four in a single phone call. The latter would give an enormous opportunity for a shut-in, older person or one too far away from the Russian family centers such as Brighton Beach, Forest Hills, etc.) B. Jobs. The vocational department of NYANA should be reorganized, with an emphasis on enlisting, publicly, the aid of the Jewish community to help meet the employment needs of Russian Jews. (As a result of the other needs for training, NYANA cannot simply put them in jobs like stock room or factory jobs; professionals, musicians and many, many others cannot find employment unless NYANA Employers can “put in” and help NYANA become a real vocational agency. What is needed is a public announcement through the Federation Employment Service and Jewish Family Service that professional jobs for Russian Jews exist.) C. Hous…

Dear Mr. Soskis: It has been some time since we have corresponded, and I hope that all is well with you. Actually, I should write to your successor, but I have never met him and do not know him personally – I therefore hope you will not mind if I impose upon you to introduce the content of this letter to the new director, and ask him to consider it favorably. I understand that there are a number of Russian immigrant families temporarily housed in hotels on the West Side. I do not believe there are many, perhaps 40 or 50 at the most. The question arises as to Passover Sedarim. We are having the Stanley Hoffman caterers arrange for the communal Sedarim here at The Jewish Center. We should like to be hosts to the Russians, but there is a financial question involved. The caterer asks $14.00 per person per night. Do you think NYANA will be able to sponsor this, so that we may invite the Russians to join us? If NYANA can subvent only part of that, perhaps I will try to raise funds so that we can pay the additional dollar or two per person for the Passover holidays for the Russians. Please be kind enough to notify me at your earliest convenience, and please accept my best wishes for a happy Passover.