Dear Rabbi Lamm, Abe Bayer has suggested I write you in regard to “A Letter to the Soviet Pharaohs,” based on the Boris Kochubiyevsky article in the Times, as described on the attached note. I understand that a Friday evening presentation precludes your attendance, but with the hope that wider dissemination of the facts may be of help to Kochubiyevsky and others, I believe it is good to publicize this premiere within the constituents of your organization. Hopefully there will be further presentations of this Cantata-form composition, in Manhattan and elsewhere – possibly in conjunction with appropriate programming, such as a major speaker – in order to get the maximum impact out of this effort. Perhaps this musical outcry will also underline the most touching story of our Georgian Jewish brethren. Cordially, Paul Kwartin

Dear Mr. Lindsay, The American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry is undertaking a major campaign to obtain signatures or endorsements of Governors and Mayors on the enclosed statement on behalf of Soviet Jewry. The purpose of this campaign is to draw nation-wide attention by simultaneous publication of the statement in various parts of the country timed with Human Rights Day on December 10th, which this year falls during the holiday of Chanuka, which commemorates an ancient victory over oppression.We know that you are no stranger to this cause. Your appearance and eloquent speech at the Rally on October 2nd at the Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza was only one of many times in which you have spoken out or performed some particular service on this tragic issue. We would hope, therefore, that you would lend your personal endorsement and the prestige of your office to this campaign.We visualize the proclamation being read at a public ceremony in your office or at a press conference during the week of December 7th, preferably on Human Rights Day, December 10th. Several representatives of the various New York-based Jewish organizations should be present.As Chairman of the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry, I would promise my assistance in any way that would make the ceremony as smooth-running as possible.We await, hopefully, your affirmative reply.Sincerely,David Geller, CoordinatorN.Y. Conference on Soviet JewryRabbi Norman Lamm, ChairmanN.Y. Conference on Soviet Jewry

Dear David: The enclosed was given to me by Rabbi Jacob Goldberg. It looks like something motivated by good intentions, but I don't think Christian clergy are as effective with regard to Soviet Jewry as they are with regard to the State of Israel in general. Nevertheless, it may be worthwhile asking around as to the feasibility of this project. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Karasick: I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman of the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry. The Conference, as you know, is composed of a number of organizations, one of which is the Orthodox Union. Representatives of the Union often appear at our meetings. (I might add that although I am considered as one of the people from the Union, I attend in a personal capacity because I am Chairman.) The Conference, which is New York Jewry’s only way of expressing itself on Soviet Jewry, does not have individual membership, nor does it possess any capacity for fund-raising. We rely completely upon the contribution made to our efforts by the participating organizations. To my chagrin, the Union is one of the very few major organizations that has contributed nothing so far in terms of money or significant use of personnel. Now, however, we are planning for a large demonstration called an Exodus March, which will take place on April 26th, Chol Ha-moed Pesach, from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. We hope to have the largest outpouring of New York Jewry that this city has ever seen on behalf of the Russian Jews. We are asking every organization, regardless of how much its ultimate annual contribution to this effort will be, to make an immediate outlay of $200 towards this affair alone. This amount will then be taken into consideration in determining what each organization will do for Russian Jewry on a regular, ongoing, annual basis. Please do be kind enough to let us have that amount at the earliest possible opportunity. At the same time, I would very much request of you to use all the Union’s channels of communication to advertise the Exodus March and so help us obtain that mass outpouring of people and sentiment that we expect and that Russian Jewry deserves of us. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear David: Welcome back. There's a great, great deal to talk about, but some things are more urgent than others. Hence, this note to bring you up on the most important matters that can brook no more delay than they've been subjected to so far. Frankly, the whole effort has suffered significantly from your absence. I only recently realized the disarray into which we have fallen. I most urgently recommend that you arrange to devote full time, or at least the major amount of your time, from now to April 26 on the Exodus March, lest the event become the debacle of the year.It will be necessary for you to get after every single committee to see what has been done, and what must yet be done. For instance, we still have no speaker. Also no program. Also no money...**Money:** At the March 26th meeting, I twisted some arms and got some people to promise to urge their organizations to help. Zivia Harris took minutes, and you ought to follow through on them at once. But even before that, it will be necessary for you to obtain the two different budgets drawn up by SSSJ on one side, and Bayer-Hill on the other. They look totally different, but that may be because they are bunched differently. This is first on the agenda.When you have set up the budget — both for the March and for regular annual operations — and, I presume, had it cleared with your coordinators such as Birnbaum, etc., please let me have it and I will immediately see Baum and Maslow of American Jewish Congress in an attempt to get from them more than the \$200 they gave so far. The \$2000 of B’nai B’rith depends on how successful I am with Congress, and they won't budge without a budget from us.**Program:** We're no place right now. We haven't got a single speaker. I don't know what you did on this front before you left, but no one has answered affirmatively. Birnbaum, Bayer, and Sheer are on this Committee — no one knows who else — and they must be contacted by you at once. Think about Paul O'Dwyer and Cardinal…

Dear Rabbi Lamm: The enclosed check from the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund is in response to your moving appeal for funds to finance the Exodus March on behalf of the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry. It comes with our heartfelt wishes for the success of this vital activity. Warmest personal regards, Sincerely, Rabbi Alan W. Miller

Dear Joe: I don't know if you received any reports about the Exodus March that took place on April 26th, but I am sure that if you inquire, you will be highly satisfied. I am chagrined to have to remind you (and I promise you this will be the last time) that despite all our pleas and entreaties, we still have not received the token sum that we requested from the UOJCA for the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry, and which was promised to us. Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL/ekcc:David Geller

Dear Marvin: I was glad to see you and have you accompany us at the Exodus March for Soviet Jewry on April 26th. I am sure you will agree that the thousands of people present (and there were, to my mind, closer to 30,000 than the 20,000 reported in the media) constituted a powerful moral force on behalf of our cause. The reason I write to you – and this is being done in a purely personal capacity, especially since I intend shortly to relinquish my post as Chairman of the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry – is to impress upon your associates how grievously they misjudged the situation.Every politician of note, especially those interested in either securing or retaining the political allegiance of this segment of the electorate, was present and participated. The crowds responded to them enthusiastically. Lindsay was not there—and I flinched and blanched when, upon announcing receipt of his telegram, his name was greeted with loud booing.I heard comments about it later in the afternoon. People wanted to know why, of all prominent officials, he was absent. The old, pre-election animosity towards Lindsay was reawakened. The most current remark referred to the fact that this was not a municipal election year, and so “Lindsay doesn’t need us.”I need not tell you that this will do him no good; voters’ memories are not that short. I fear that those who advised the Mayor against coming have misled him and done him a real disservice. I am genuinely sorry about this, because I like the man.Sincerely yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM NL/e

Dear Dr. Gordon: I was moved by your very warm words of welcome to the Presidency of Yeshiva. Although we have met each other only briefly, I feel that you are a real friend. The quote from John Gardner is so very appropriate, that I expect to use it on more than one occasion. I shall most certainly keep it in mind, and I accept your suggestions as good medical advice, sound administrative counsel, and just plain good sense. Thank you for everything, but above all for your friendship. Cordially yours, Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Karasick, On behalf of the New York Conference on Soviet Jewry, I wish to thank you for your contribution of $200.00. Your assistance will help us continue our efforts to sensitize and mobilize public opinion in this country to the injustices being committed against our people in the Soviet Union. Thank you again. Sincerely, David Geller, Rabbi Norman Lamm, Coordinator, Chairman. cc: Rabbi Louis Ginsburg, Rabbi Elkanah Schwartz