Dear Mr. Soskis: I’m glad we were able to meet, exchange ideas and find out more deeply about NYANA’s work. Based on yesterday’s discussion and our growing work with the increasing number of community-based groups helping Russian Jewish immigrants, I’d like to put down in writing what we perceive to be some of the needs of Russian Jews in New York. A. English. Although it is true that a good number of Russian Jews would rather find a job than learn English when they arrive, NYANA should explain to them that proficiency in English leads to better jobs and that such an opportunity to learn English without having to work at the same time will probably not exist again for them. Private language instruction, cheaper than the public school type, seems much superior (smaller classes, more keyed to need to know technical language) should be made available to all who ask, even to those who have first tried a public school course and found it wanting. (Here you can involve volunteers who are needed to help immigrants practice English once a basic knowledge of the language is acquired. Volunteers don’t know the language well?, both by personal meetings and by three or four in a single phone call. The latter would give an enormous opportunity for a shut-in, older person or one too far away from the Russian family centers such as Brighton Beach, Forest Hills, etc.) B. Jobs. The vocational department of NYANA should be reorganized, with an emphasis on enlisting, publicly, the aid of the Jewish community to help meet the employment needs of Russian Jews. (As a result of the other needs for training, NYANA cannot simply put them in jobs like stock room or factory jobs; professionals, musicians and many, many others cannot find employment unless NYANA Employers can “put in” and help NYANA become a real vocational agency. What is needed is a public announcement through the Federation Employment Service and Jewish Family Service that professional jobs for Russian Jews exist.) C. Hous…

Dear Mr. Stern, the enclosed report is the result of our years’ effort on behalf of the Russian Jewish emigres. To put it in a nutshell, I feel that the Jewish community is not getting one hundred cents for every dollar spent, primarily due to inadequate leadership, planning and understanding. Kindest personal regards, also to Mrs. Stern. Sincerely, Martin Schwarzschild

Dear Ernie: It was really a pleasure to talk with you and I am glad you see that the way NYANA is handling the offices has been outmoded. It is important that we will do a better job and certainly save money by looking for someone able to be in charge of NYANA as soon as possible. I mentioned to you that the person should be religious so that he may understand all types of Jews. Believe me, it was very nice to receive a report from Mr. Schwarzschild in detail, and I know that unfortunately this situation has been the same for a long, long time. For your information, more than 60 Russian children are attending Day Schools. A change must take place as quickly as possible. Please see to it. Sincerely, Max Stern