My Dear Dr. Weiss: I am here now three days. I can’t begin to tell you the story of India, I could already fill volumes. I am somewhat depressed by the general scene in Bombay, but the Jewish community is a very painful experience to behold. They are really a darling community. Enthusiastic, warm and possessed with a tremendous thirst for knowledge. Since I have arrived I have been working 18 hours a day. I have had about six committee meetings, 4 private sessions and I delivered lectures at 4 public gatherings. Thank G-d in the public gatherings I have made quite an impression on them. In the private meetings and committee sessions, and they are long, I am attempting to lay the ground work for a formal organization of a U.O.J.C.I. I have brought together the Iraqi leadership and the B’nai Israel and thank G-d succeeded in having them agree to a Union which will take in the Iraqi congregations and the B’nai Israel. Also a council of 5 men will be established to whom all matters involving ? and מקוה will be referred for them to contact either the Rabbinate of Israel, or the Chief Rabbinate of England or us in America.So far 9 congregations have agreed to join representing about 10,000 of Bombay’s 15,000 Jews. One of Mr. Benjamin’s friends attended one of my lectures and when it was through he said "it looks as though you have begun to scrap the United Synagogues of India". If these congregations go through with what we have planned Mr. Benjamin will be left with a few small prayer halls.Now comes the real problem. These people are suffering of the worst poverty I have ever seen. Families of 7 and 8 live in one room. It’s simply heartbreaking. Religiously they are very enthusiastic but are completely ignorant. It’s a terrible situation. We must find someone at least a teacher to come over here, at all costs, this is a real need. 15,000 Jews without a rabbi and without a teacher.To combat the influence of the Conservatives and Reform, we must help them organize and th…

Dear Dr. Weiss: Things are going at a quick pace. I have addressed about 12 public meetings and have four more to go. The Conservatives have attempted to upset things numerous times but thank G-d to no avail. There is a great deal of inner conflict going on but much of it is slowly being solved. Really, this is a darling Jewish community and we must help them. The people simply are thirsty for the word of Torah. The poverty as I told you is shocking.I am still hoping that you were able to wire me the thousand dollars. It isn’t a great deal of money but it can go a long way. We want to rent quarters and it isn’t too expensive. Also I would like to buy at least 200 pair of Tefilin. Most of the B’nai Israel do not have Tefilin and they are now willing to put them on. We can buy them from Cochin for about $2.50 a pair.If you haven’t been able to wire the money until now then please wait till I return.Please have Moses Feuerstein read this letter.Best personal regards.Sincerely(signed) Charles WeinbergP.S. By the time you receive this letter I will probably be in Israel.

Dear Dr. Weiss: I imagine you will receive this letter when I am already across the Atlantic, but I do want you to know how deeply I appreciate all your efforts in preparing my tour. It is so infrequent that a man in community work receives his due recognition that I don’t want to miss the opportunity to express my gratitude to one who so richly deserves commendation. Every aspect of the trip was handled with efficiency, courtesy, and dignity. Thank you, therefore, and please be assured of my lasting admiration. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Dear Dr. Weiss: I know that you are probably overwhelmed by the work greeting you upon your return; nevertheless, allow me to submit this item to your attention: I met with Moe Feuerstein and we decided that it would be advisable not to apply to the Lubavitcher for a rabbi for India at the present time. Moe suggests that you inquire of some of the Roshe Hayeshivah or the other yeshivot, such as Chaim Berlin and Baltimore for an appropriate candidate.Incidentally, Mr. Max Stern approved of a rabbi's salary of $5,000 or $6,000 a year. Considering Bombay prices, this is a tremendous salary for a beginner.Sincerely,Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Gotthold: Rabbi Lamm informed by Mr. Avner Tomaschoff of the Department for Torah Education of the World Zionist Organization that the Ministry of Religions would contribute one third of the cost of Tefillin for India and that the cost of one pair of Tefillin is IL 16. Would you kindly arrange for the immediate shipment of 200 pair of Tefillin to: UOJCI, c/o Magen Hasidim Synagogue, 8 Morland Road, Bombay 11. India. NT. Saul Bernstein, the Administrator of the Union, will arrive in Israel on or about June 23rd and will pay the amount IL 2,134 – two-thirds of the total price of 3,200 IL to the Ministry of Religions.I have advised our friends in India to apply immediately for a duty-free import license for 200 pair of Tefillin and would greatly appreciate your contacting the Indian Consulate from your end to facilitate the duty-free shipment of the Tefillin as a gift. I have, of course, informed the UOJCI that your Ministry is donating one-third of this shipment.It is a pleasure to establish again contact with you and to utilize this opportunity to thank you for your cooperation in our efforts for the Bene Israel of India.With kindest personal regards, I amVery sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. WeissExecutive Vice PresidentRabbi Zev Gotthold Ministry of Religions Jerusalem, Israel

Dear Mr. Stern: Enclosed please find copies of my letters to India and to Israel, in keeping with my recent memorandum of Sivan 18. I learned from Rabbi Lamm of your generous contribution of $250.00 for the salary of the Chazan in Panvel and the $700.00 contribution for the Tefillin which you were good enough to obtain. Since the money brought by Rabbi Lamm to India for Tefillin cannot be sent from there to Israel, due to Indian Valuta regulations, I am arranging for the transfer of these monies for other purposes. Thus, for instance, your contribution of $250.00 is already available to our friends in India for the Panvel Chazan. Since Mr. Saul Bernstein, the Administrator of the Orthodox Union, will be leaving next week for Israel, he will arrange for the payment of the Tefillin to the Ministry of Religions. This way, we will get a course of IL 2.16 per dollar, instead of IL 1.80.I will permit myself to call you on Thursday to find out whether you are available for a meeting of our Overseas Commission on Wednesday, June 21st.With many thanks for your generous support and with kindest personal regards, I amVery sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. Weiss Executive Vice President8RW/sd Inc.Mr. Max Stem 1 West 81st Street New York 24, N. Y.

Gentlemen: Various circumstances prevented me from replying to your communications, directed to Rabbi Lamm on May 7th and to Mr. Feuerstein on May 12th, as well as to myself on April 13th. I assure you, though, that Mr. Feuerstein and I have been in constant contact with Rabbi Lamm who has conducted so intensive a correspondence with our friends in India. First let me report to you on the materials mailed to the UOJCI as of today, in keeping with your letter to Rabbi Lamm. You will receive, directly from the Hebrew Publishing Company of New York, the following: 20 copies of the Chumash in Hebrew with English translation 10 copies of the Code of Jewish Law (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch) in the Hebrew original 10 copies of the same in English translation 1 set of the same, in 4 volumes, Hebrew with English translation (this set, I thought, might be advantageous for the instructor) We are furthermore shipping to you the following:20 copies each of our Handbooks on Yamim Noraim, Pesach, Purim and Chanukah.100 copies each of our Festival Series on Chanukah, the High Holy Days. Poaeeh, Moim. Sukkoth and Shavuoth, (The Handbooks are designed for leaders and instructors. The Festival Series is for distribution to the membership.)500 copies of Essentials of Judaism 100 copies of our Guidebook on Kashruth 100 copies of our booklet on prayer 100 copies on the Kaddish 100 copies of our booklet on Brit Milah 10 manuals on the organisation of synagogue youth 20 manuals on teenage activities 20 manuals on organising a synagogue youth council 20 Shabbat manuals for youth groups We are further sending you, courtesy of the Rabbinical Council of America:105 copies of Marriage and Home (this booklet also contains a fine section on kashruth in the home) 1 RCA Sermon Manual, 1959 edition 1 RCA Sermon Manual, 1960 edition 3 copies of Tradition, latest issue We are furthermore mailing you 10 copies of each volume of the “Pray and Learn” children’s book series published by our Women’s Branch.I re…

Dear Rabbi Sassoon: Thank you for your letter of May 8th which was acknowledged, in my absence, by Mr. Bernstein. We are trying very hard to find a rabbi who could serve the Indian Jewish community for at least one consecutive year. Neither Rabbi Lamm nor Rabbi Weinberg who visited India last year, could possibly undertake to absent themselves from their respective positions for even six months. We are expecting added information on a candidate presently residing in Israel who has done a great deal of work with members of the Bene Israel who have immigrated to Israel.A great deal of correspondence wont on concerning the Joint and its representative Mr. Gilbert and the position he seems to have taken contrary to the wishes of Mr. Manasseh. Dr. Jung is fully aware of the complications and Rabbi Lamm, too, has written in this matter extensively to both, Mr. Manasseh and Mr. Gilbert.You will be happy to learn that the first UOJCA scholarship student has arrived in Yerushalayim where he will be studing at the Kol Yisrael Yeshiva. Three more students are expected and I understand that at least one of them will study at Porat Yosef.As soon as new developments occur, I shall certainly inform you. In the meantime, please accept once more my thanks for your good advice and your cooperation.With kindest personal regards and all good wishes, I amVery sincerely yours,Dr. Samson R. Weiss Executive Vice PresidentRabbi S. D. Sassoon 15, Sollershott East Letchworth, Herts,England

Dear Dr. Weiss, We were all anxiously awaiting word from you, and your letters of June 6 and 7, 1961 have made us all very happy and we are all very grateful to you for the same. When we say 'We,' we voice the feelings and opinion of all on the Executive as well as our well wishers. Permit us also to thank you for the despatch of all the publications, which we are sure will go a long way, in educating our people and creating a healthy religious atmosphere in every Jewish home. We will request you for further copies, if and when they are required.Rabbi Lamm, that wonderful person has done a wonderfully good job in establishing cordial relations with all those he met. We are also grateful to him, because he made it a point to study the entire situation obtaining here and no effort was too tiresome for him.We are approaching the Import and Export authorities to authorise us to receive shipments of gift parcels of religious books sent by you.It is very of generous of Mr. Max Stern to have donated one years salary for the Hazan at the Beth El, Panvel amounting to 250/- and for having secured for us 700/- for Tefillin from his personal friend. We shall feel obliged, if you could kindly advise Rabbi Gotthold to send the Tefillin via the route, suggested by Mr. I. Kellman, in his letter to Rabbi Gotthold.We are on the look out for a good used typewriter. We suppose we should be able to secure one at the price of five to six hundred Rupees.We give below the financial position and would request you to view it sympathetically.ReceiptsFor Office and publication UOJCA 500/- 2362.50Mr. Baris 100/- 472.00By advertisement so far collected Rs. 65/- 65.00For Tefillin and other purposes 700/- 3309.25(your letter of Dec. 26, 1960)Local collection 1257.007465.75ExpenditureFor Office Stationery Postage and Typewriter hire. 331.89 Publication of Mebasser to date. 2656.12For Tefillin 271.08For Samuel's passage, etc. 1270.92During Rabbis Weinberg and Lamms visit. 1699.006229.01The amount r…

Dear Rabbi Weiss: Permit me to reply to your letter of 6.21, and those of Rabbi Lamm of 6.9 and 6.23, together. By virtue of my position I am constrained in giving you the fulness of reply which your questions deserve. The Director General of our Ministry, Dr. S. Z. Kahane, informed me, upon reading your letters, that your remarks are related to the various organizations in the Diaspora. They should be ruled by those organizations themselves in their entirety, and you cannot excuse yourself by evading their conflicting statements on the same issues. A line of policy was laid down by our authorities and we are already committed to it with all possible implications. Our Ministry secured a favorable vote from the Knesset for financial allocations in order to make possible the financing for religious functions. The same could not be secured from the Ministry for Agriculture and similar Rabbis as it could be secured from the Ministry for Religious Functions. This might explain to you the position taken by Rabbi Nissim and his ruling. We must make clear that this is a firm position about the financing aspect for sending and maintaining rabbis in your country. I cannot tell you what brought on Rabbi Nissim’s change of heart. Later – today – I have an appointment with him together with Dr. Kahane and after further elucidation I shall add it later. Professor Tartakower is in close correspondence with Mr. Benjamin of the World Jewish Congress in New York. Mr. Benjamin informed me that Rabbi Shevitz had no chance to be appointed in Bombay because of the Rabbinate’s opposition to have an Ashkenazi Rabbi in Bombay. Mr. Benjamin’s opposition to have an orthodox Rabbi is based on religious grounds, as was pointed out that his financial interest in this affair is the safeguarding of the Bnei Yisroel’s rights and combating discrimination. He does not exclude such responsibility though you were to contact the World Institute in New York and to come with them to an agreement. Our Mi…