Dear Norman: Acknowledge receipt of your report on your mission to India which Dr. Weiss mailed to me at your request. I must say that I found it most stimulating reading even though you had given me the gist of it over the phone in our discussion about Darbari. It would be a good idea, to subject certain communities and parts of this country to the same organized scrutiny and evaluation. Just how we can be helpful is a little difficult to say at the present time. We have not yet had the "schiah" to open an overseas department.At the moment, however, I seem to agree with you that the Union should maintain a direct contact with Dovid Beit Aryeh. I hope that you saw Beit Aryeh when he was here. I spent a little time with him – far too little.Beit Aryeh comes from the Rizhiner chassidim and is tremendously devoted to Torah education. I discussed with him his trip to Canada and to various parts of this country and despite his political affiliations, has indicated to me a number of places where we must get Torah people in.It seems to me that he is your only source for men to go to India. Between him and Dr. Thal of the Machon Gold, you should be able to find some people. I am especially grateful for what you did regarding the Darbari case.Keep very well and all good wishes to you and yours for a Happy and Kosher Pesach.בברכת חג כשר ושמחSincerely yours,Dr. Joseph KaminetskyJK:LB

Dear Joe: The enclosed poem is one that was given to me by a young lade whom I met in the fabled city of Poona, She comes from a fine observant Jewish family that has been in India for over 150 years and is originally from Bagdad. I thought you might be able to print it in one of the organs of Torah Umesorah to show how the "spark" is still alive in distant places. I might add that the "Jewish Parent" is received regularly in Poona and the work of Torah Umesorah is known in that community.Whether or not you print it, I would appreciate your returning to me the original manuscript herein enclosed.Sincerely yours,Rabbi Normam Lamm

Dear Norman: Regret exceedingly that I could not write to you sooner. As you know, I had to spend Thursday and Friday of last week in Atlantic City on an emergency quite similar to Springfield's. I want to thank you most sincerely for responding so warmly and quickly to my S.O.S. Unfortunately, not too many of our colleagues put the Day School in the category of "top priority" as you did so spontaneously. I am enclosing a brief "Worksheet" on Springfield. While it is written in abbreviated form, it may project to you some of the major problems they face. When I called Joe Shuchatowitz on Friday upon my return from Atlantic City late in the afternoon, he told me that he had had a long conversation with Amos Bunim, who is pretty near the top-worker and leader in TU, and who visited Springfield on an emergency during the year. Amos repeated our idea to call a series of meetings etc..., but Joe Shuchatowitz is very discouraged and is still looking for a master plan.I must say that in Atlantic City our insistence that the school go on - and our "hitting them over the head" re: the need for a Day School worked. I think it will work in Springfield. But, frankly, this will cane about only ifiLou Izenstein, Isie Strick and Aaron Kurn and others of the "old guard" forget bygones and step into the breach.I know that you spoke to Isie Strick who said "he has to digest matters and discuss it with some people" before he can do anything concrete.Lou Izenstein, to whan I spoke at some length, was equally evasive. He was much too hurt to be stirred even by me.I do bp e that you have some ideas and will be in touch with us. Since I am going away, please write to Rabbi Bullman who is fully aware of all detailsTWENTIETH ANNUAL DINNER .... HOTEL PIERRESUNDAY EVENING, NOV. 3, 1963BjO1Z2I - SpringfieldFinancial problem acute - meeting at his hone last night - If to close ?how to go about it - $60,000 in the hole. $10,000 more than last year.Ran into major problems - Hostility from local …

Dear Joe: I want to let you know what kind of a wonderful impression your report to the Torah Umesorah Annual Dinner on Sunday night made upon me and all others who were sitting in my area, both from The Jewish Center and from without. Your report was filled with fascinating material and you held the interest of your audience every moment – no mean feat at all. I particularly admired your exemplary self-restraint in avoiding “stories” or homiletics, which is a professional danger with us. Many more years of health and strength in your fabulous work for Torah. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Regret exceedingly that I could not write to you sooner. As you know, I had to spend Thursday and Friday of last week in Atlantic City on an emergency quite similar to Springfield's. I want to thank you most sincerely for responding so warmly and quickly to my S.O.S. Unfortunately, not too many of our colleagues put the Day School in the category of "top priority" as you did so spontaneously. I am enclosing a brief "Worksheet" on Springfield. While it is written in abbreviated form, it may project to you some of the major problems they face. When I called Joe Shuchatowitz on Friday upon my return from Atlantic City late in the afternoon, he told me that he had had a long conversation with Amos Bunim, who is pretty near the top-worker and leader in TU, and who visited Springfield on an emergency during the year. Amos repeated our idea to call a series of meetings etc. but Joe Shuchatowitz is very discouraged and is still looking for a master plan. I must say that in Atlantic City our insistence that the school go on and our "hitting them over the head" regarding the need for a Day School worked. I think it will work in Springfield. But, frankly, this will come about only if Lou Izenstein, Isie Strick and Aaron Kurn and others of the "old guard" forget bygones and step into the breach. I know that you spoke to Isie Strick who said "he has to digest matters and discuss it with some people" before he can do anything concrete. Lou Izenstein, to whom I spoke at some length, was equally evasive. He was much too hurt to be stirred even by me.I do hope that you have some ideas and will be in touch with us. Since I am going away, please write to Rabbi Bulman who is fully aware of all details. Keep well and best regards.Sincerely yours,Dr. Joseph KaminetskySPECIAL REPORT ON SPRINGFIELD-Springfield July 19, 1963Confidential, of course!Financial problem acute meeting at his home last night If to close show to go about it - $60,000 in the hole. $10,000 more than last year. Ran i…

[Redacted] First of all, heartiest congratulations to you upon becoming the head of Internal Medicine at the Springfield Hospital. I wish you loads of hatzlachah. Yet, I do hope that you will make the time to save the Springfield Hebrew Day School. I am convinced that only the "Old Guard", consisting of such men like yourself, [redacted] and [redacted] can save the school. You people have worked hard for 10 years to bring Torah to Springfield - and frankly you should be "mevater" on your pride etc... to save this institution. Again, quite frankly, it is you - and [redacted] - and "your crowd" who understands what Torah is more than anyone else in town, and you must not let a Day School fall, G-d forbid. I implore you to put aside any other considerations and do your utmost to pull the school out of the fire.All the best to you,and the childrenKeep very well and best regardsSincerely yours,Joseph Kaminatsky

Dear Norman: Thank you for your letter of December 5th and I can see your point. I will choose your latter alternative. You write the accompanying editorial note, abbreviate the article and I will carry on from there. I would not think of passing up a chance to print an article under what has become now a famous by-line, baruch Hashem, Rabbi Norman Lamm. Good luck to you on your trip to South Africa. Sincerely yours, Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky

Dear Joe: When I was in South Africa I noticed a technique that they use for fund raising that I believe may be successfully employed by many Day Schools in this country. It is especially useful in obtaining funds from people who are not able to give large sums all at once. The form is called a "stop order," and is basically a kind of head-check system. By signing a pledge for, let us say, $240.00 over two years, the donor signs the stop order which authorizes his own bank to deduct from his account $10.00 per month for the two year period. It thus makes the giving painless, especially since it can be publicized as a mere $10.00 per month contribution. Please let me know if you think this kind of system can be of use in the states and especially for the Day Schools. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Joe: I am writing about a matter you mentioned to me casually a week or so ago, and about which I am also writing to leaders of other major Orthodox organizations. I believe the time has come for all of us to stand up and be counted in the Shaare Zedek affair. I am not referring to the merits of the controversy itself – I personally support and admire him, though I understand that honorable men may differ. What concerns me is the degradation of this controversy into the ugliest kind of polemics that our community – so often plagued by destructive disputes – has suffered in a long time. While Orthodox organizations, quick to speak out on issues far removed from immediate Torah concerns, have remained thunderously silent, three distinguished Orthodox Jews have suffered scandalous humiliation simply because of their support for Shaare Zedek. I think you will agree that Max Stern, Ludwig Jesselson, and Charles Bendheim are among the most philanthropic Jews in Orthodox life. Virtually every worthy Jewish cause has benefited from their generosity, and without them Shaare Zedek would likely not survive, let alone expand. Yet because of this controversy, unscrupulous agitators have been picketing their offices and circulating scurrilous leaflets with their pictures. The chillul Hashem has been enormous. Non-Orthodox Jews who witness these spectacles are repelled rather than drawn closer to Torah and piety, while non-Jews form their own obvious impressions of Jews as a whole. What must such leading Orthodox laymen think when, after decades of personal sacrifice and contributions to Torah causes, not a single national Orthodox organization comes to their defense – not even to denounce the agitators and deplore their methods? The time is long past when we can ignore these disgraceful events and remain silent in our comfortable shells. Whatever our views of the substantive issue, there is no justification for the shameful insults to which these men have been subjected. I…