Dear Norman: Attached is the second revised edition of the Hospital Compendium, which I surely thought you have seen in the past. This is the result of some forty months of work of a committee consisting of several rabbis and traditionally oriented doctors. We are now at the point where we should get out a third edition, as well as a companion volume which would give all the authorities on the subjects covered. Rabbi Jakobovits is still interested in the project and promises to help us even though he will be in England. However, we need a new chairman and your name was suggested. I want you to know that this Compendium has been reviewed internationally and has been sold to every medical school and hospital in this country, as well as in forty-four foreign countries. You must understand that the impact of this Compendium has been great and that I consider this work among the finest achievements of this Department. Should you like to discuss the matter with me further, I would be glad to meet with you. Cordially, Isaac N. Trainin, Rabbi

Dear Norman: I know how close you are to Jakob Michael. You know that Federation now has two Chassidic camps – Mogen Avraham and Sternberger. We plan to open a third camp this summer next to Mogen Avraham in the Bear Mountain area. We are looking for a sponsor for about $15,000 to $20,000. We would be glad to name the camp in his name. The reason the cost is very modest is that the Bear Mountain area is rented to Federation camps at a very reasonable fee, therefore obviating the need to buy property. Could you arrange for a meeting at which time I could discuss with Mr. Michael to whom, I believe, this should be of great interest. You may know that Mogen Avraham is named for Albert Joffe, who gave us the money to make that camp possible in 1961.Cordially,Isaac N. Trainin, RabbiINT/mr

Dear Norman: Kudos to you for the marvelous shiur-lecture on the meaning of bikur cholim. I received it in the mail from the Coordinating Council. What a marvelous presentation! The halakhic discussions, the development of differences of opinion and nuance between various authorities, and then the etymological analysis of the word bikur – it was all a model of how a popular shiur ought to be given when you want to get across both the basic concepts and values as well as a reverence for halakha and Jewish sources. But why in heaven’s name did you have to praise Ike Trainin so much at the beginning of the talk? I will never be able to live it down – he will keep reminding me of it all the time. But, between you and me, he really is a role model in both chesed and energy. HL:ff – cc: Rabbi Isaac N. Trainin