Dear Colleague: Can I get your personal reaction to this proposal? Would you be willing to support this idea? "On the Creation of a National Organization of Scholars in the Field of Jewish Studies." The time has come for us to think of joining hands to create a national organization of scholars in the field of Jewish Studies, an American Association for Jewish Studies (AAJS), similar to the American Historical Association, the American Oriental Society, the Society of Biblical Literature, the American Academy of Religion, etc., with a large, enthusiastic and active membership and an ambitious, dynamic and aggressive program of activities on a nationwide scale.In order to achieve this goal, I suggest that over the next five years we work together to bring about the following:The creation of local organizations of scholars in the field of Jewish Studies in at least the following key cities where there are concentrations of such scholars: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cincinnati. These local organizations of Jewish scholars would hold regular monthly meetings during the academic year, preferably in private homes, at which the members in turn would be able to deliver learned papers on Jewish subjects, historical and theological, followed by discussion and fellowship.The members of these local organizations of Jewish scholars, plus other Jewish scholars from across the land, would then meet together once a year in a national meeting, the site of which would rotate in a six-year cycle between New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati. This national meeting would last 2–3 days and would feature papers, panel discussions, special learned addresses, luncheons and dinners, quality Jewish music, dance, drama and art, special motion pictures and slides, book exhibits by the relevant publishers, etc., similar to the national meeting of the American Historical Association and the other national scholarly organizations mentioned …

Dear Colleague: With regard to the idea of creating a national organization of scholars in the field of Jewish Studies, the reaction of most Jewish scholars around the country has been quite favorable, but many suggest that before any new organization be created, we wait to see what the American Academy for Jewish Research, which has reorganization in its agenda, does at its next meeting. Those of us who belong to the AAJR should make our feelings known on this question to its distinguished President, Professor Lieberman of the JTS.Also, it has since developed that the National Foundation for Jewish Culture is planning to hold a "National Conference on Jewish Studies in (non-Jewish) American Colleges and Universities" in the New York City area either in December or January, and we probably should also wait to see what develops from this Conference.But one very constructive suggestion that has been made is to hold an "Annual Spring Judaic Studies Conference" outside of the New York City area (perhaps rotating in a five-year cycle between Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles), with 2–3 days of volunteered papers, especially by younger scholars, beginning in the Spring of 1968.If such a meeting were to be held, I feel certain that many top-quality papers would be volunteered by both Jewish and non-Jewish scholars of Judaism from the East, Midwest, Far West, and South.There is some hope that the American Academy for Jewish Research will cooperate with such a project since Professor Lieberman has indicated that the AAJR might be willing to hold a second meeting, outside of New York City, in the Spring, in addition to its regular December meeting at the JTS.An "Annual Spring Judaic Studies Conference" outside of New York City, beginning in the Spring of 1968, in which younger Jewish scholars would have a significant share of the responsibility, and which would focus on contemporary Jewish life and thought as well as on the more traditional areas of …