Dear Moe, I am sending you herewith enclosed, the minutes of the last meeting of the Executive Committee on Russian Jewry. Your visit has engendered a tremendous amount of enthusiasm among the various Committees and individuals who are active in the field. It would be a pity if this would be dissipated owing to inaction on your end. I received a cable from Rabbi Levovitz advising us that a Committee is in formation. However, if the momentum is slowed, it will not only create a credibility gap here, but will deprive us of doing the job which needs to be done. If a delegation is to go to the States to raise funds, we must do it immediately. If you wish, you may want to suggest names of people who should constitute this delegation. Please let me hear from you very soon. With best wishes and kindest personal regards, I remain, sincerely yours, Dr. Samuel Gertz

Dear Dr. Gertz: I must confess to you my disappointment in the development of the Russian Jewry project. It started with so much promise and enthusiasm, that my frustration now is all the greater. If you recall, I promised to help in the project, provided that there would be someone to take the leadership in this country, and that there would be genuine coordination and further progress on the Israeli side. Neither of these has eventuated. I have personally raised, in my own congregation and from few friends in the vicinity over $7,000, most of which I have now sent to Rabbi Kalman for his purposes under the arrangement. All I have seen is a big public announcement by Agudah, Young Israel, etc. Yet, we specifically agreed that funds were to be coordinated both in fundraising and in expenditures. Now from all reports reaching me from Israel, our group remains a paper organization, and everyone is off on his own little campaign. Under such circumstances, I would rather contribute what little I can to a smaller group whose activities I am acquainted than to a larger group which seems incohesive and therefore ineffective, despite the great note of significance it has. I hope, Dr. Gertz, that you will not fault me for being overly frank. I am long in the Orthodox Jewish community, and I have experienced this malady. We Orthodox Jews seem to have a knack for confronting historic challenges with our heads in the ground. I do not wish to indulge myself before one who I know is sensitive to this malady, but perhaps something can eventually be achieved before it is too late. My best wishes for a happy Pesach.Cordially,Rabbi Norman Lamm