Dear Mr. Feuerstein, Allow me to address these few lines to you after a considerable lapse of time though correspondence exchanged between Dr. Weiss and myself must have been viewed by you. Rabbi Norman Lamm, the magnificent orator, has done a marvellous job to strengthen the U.O.J.C.I., and the extensive plan he has chalked out with the Jt. Hon. Secretary Mr. A.D. Jhirad will be put into effect as soon as he is able to assume office of the Executive Director.Rabbi Lamm was literally put through the mill with a very tight programme. However he was able to study at close quarters the situation obtaining here. We were also very lucky to have Mr. Max Stern at the meeting of the Executive and he too has been apprised of the difficulties and problems facing the U.O.J.C.I.The gist of sermons delivered by Rabbi Lamm at various institutions is being published in the issue of "Mebasser", copies of which will be posted as soon as ready.Rabbi Lamm was much perturbed to see the conditions of Jews in the villages, and especially the dilapidated and pitiable condition of the two very old Synagogues of Pen and Panvel. He was kind enough to assure the Congregations that he would try and interest some congregations in America to come to their rescue. Principally, salaries of two Hazanim, who will also teach Hebrew and religion to the local children and those of the surrounding villages, are to be arranged.Incidentally, I may bring to your kind notice that both these synagogues need repairs and whitewash. The approximate cost is estimated at Rs 1,500/- to Rs 2,000/-. If any kind donor or institution could come forward to help these institutions, through the U.0.J.C.I., we shall be greatly obliged.A copy of the balance sheet approved at the meeting of the Executive held on 1st February 1961 together with the minutes will be forwarded to you separately.I have also to inform you that a few women met together on 86th February 1961 And decided to form a Women’s Branch of the U.O.J.C.I. A…

My dear Mr. and Mrs. Penkar: Now that I have returned I want you to know that although I am back into the routine of my own affairs I have not forgotten, nor shall I ever forget, the wonderful experiences I had in India and the friendship I formed with so many people, especially with the Penkars. I want to thank you for all your assistance, advice, and especially Mrs. Penkar’s culinary gifts.Please give my regards to your brother-in-law and sister and to all the children. I shall be directing all business information to Abraham Jhirad, as that will facilitate the exchange of all information.Sincerely yours,Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I beg to be excused for not having written a letter to you earlier and the reasons for not siting were not that I was too busy, but owing to the sickness in the family from the 6th February 1961, begining with my youngest son, we all have been ill with something or the other till recently. However, Mr. Jhirad has been in correspondence with all concerned and he consults me before he writes or takes action in any matter. Permit me to congratulate you and Mrs. Lamm on the new arrival of a baby girl. May God Bless you all.I am enclosing herewith a palm print from village Vakroli and shall try to send the tape recording in the near future.With kindest regards to one and allSincerely yours,(Saul S. Penkar)Vice-President.

Gentlemen: Various circumstances prevented me from replying to your communications, directed to Rabbi Lamm on May 7th and to Mr. Feuerstein on May 12th, as well as to myself on April 13th. I assure you, though, that Mr. Feuerstein and I have been in constant contact with Rabbi Lamm who has conducted so intensive a correspondence with our friends in India. First let me report to you on the materials mailed to the UOJCI as of today, in keeping with your letter to Rabbi Lamm. You will receive, directly from the Hebrew Publishing Company of New York, the following: 20 copies of the Chumash in Hebrew with English translation 10 copies of the Code of Jewish Law (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch) in the Hebrew original 10 copies of the same in English translation 1 set of the same, in 4 volumes, Hebrew with English translation (this set, I thought, might be advantageous for the instructor) We are furthermore shipping to you the following:20 copies each of our Handbooks on Yamim Noraim, Pesach, Purim and Chanukah.100 copies each of our Festival Series on Chanukah, the High Holy Days. Poaeeh, Moim. Sukkoth and Shavuoth, (The Handbooks are designed for leaders and instructors. The Festival Series is for distribution to the membership.)500 copies of Essentials of Judaism 100 copies of our Guidebook on Kashruth 100 copies of our booklet on prayer 100 copies on the Kaddish 100 copies of our booklet on Brit Milah 10 manuals on the organisation of synagogue youth 20 manuals on teenage activities 20 manuals on organising a synagogue youth council 20 Shabbat manuals for youth groups We are further sending you, courtesy of the Rabbinical Council of America:105 copies of Marriage and Home (this booklet also contains a fine section on kashruth in the home) 1 RCA Sermon Manual, 1959 edition 1 RCA Sermon Manual, 1960 edition 3 copies of Tradition, latest issue We are furthermore mailing you 10 copies of each volume of the “Pray and Learn” children’s book series published by our Women’s Branch.I re…

Dear Dr. Weiss, We were all anxiously awaiting word from you, and your letters of June 6 and 7, 1961 have made us all very happy and we are all very grateful to you for the same. When we say 'We,' we voice the feelings and opinion of all on the Executive as well as our well wishers. Permit us also to thank you for the despatch of all the publications, which we are sure will go a long way, in educating our people and creating a healthy religious atmosphere in every Jewish home. We will request you for further copies, if and when they are required.Rabbi Lamm, that wonderful person has done a wonderfully good job in establishing cordial relations with all those he met. We are also grateful to him, because he made it a point to study the entire situation obtaining here and no effort was too tiresome for him.We are approaching the Import and Export authorities to authorise us to receive shipments of gift parcels of religious books sent by you.It is very of generous of Mr. Max Stern to have donated one years salary for the Hazan at the Beth El, Panvel amounting to 250/- and for having secured for us 700/- for Tefillin from his personal friend. We shall feel obliged, if you could kindly advise Rabbi Gotthold to send the Tefillin via the route, suggested by Mr. I. Kellman, in his letter to Rabbi Gotthold.We are on the look out for a good used typewriter. We suppose we should be able to secure one at the price of five to six hundred Rupees.We give below the financial position and would request you to view it sympathetically.ReceiptsFor Office and publication UOJCA 500/- 2362.50Mr. Baris 100/- 472.00By advertisement so far collected Rs. 65/- 65.00For Tefillin and other purposes 700/- 3309.25(your letter of Dec. 26, 1960)Local collection 1257.007465.75ExpenditureFor Office Stationery Postage and Typewriter hire. 331.89 Publication of Mebasser to date. 2656.12For Tefillin 271.08For Samuel's passage, etc. 1270.92During Rabbis Weinberg and Lamms visit. 1699.006229.01The amount r…

Dear Mr. Jhirad, It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Joint Overseas Commission of the Orthodox Union, at its last meeting, discussed in great detail the various needs of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of India, as they are stated in the communications we received from your good self and Mr. Penkar during the last several months. It was decided to approve and support the following expenditures: (1) The continued publication of Mebasser.The continuation and the possible increase of the Hebrew classes you have arranged in cooperation with the Jewish Agency.The project which we would like to see enlarged to a greater number of participants.We would also very much like you to accept officially the position of the Director of the UOJCI, as discussed in your correspondence with Rabbi Norman Lamm.In order to facilitate the above, we shall send to the UOJCI the necessary funds which we estimate to be \$1,700 for the year 1961. Our first payment of \$500 is enclosed. It would be helpful if you could send us a brief budgetary statement containing the expected 1961 expenses for *Mebasser*, the classes, and the camp, also including your own remuneration. This statement should also contain the amount your organization expects to raise locally and the deficit to be defrayed by us.It was furthermore decided that we shall contact Mr. Joseph Grossman concerning the training of teachers in the Holy Land. Mr. Grossman has been in contact, by correspondence, with Rabbi Leo Jung concerning this matter, and our Commission has, in principle, agreed to pay the required travel expenses from India to Israel for at least three additional students. We want to enable the Jewish Agency to send three young men for training as teachers to Israel, in addition to the number for which the Agency’s India budget makes provision.It gives me also pleasure to inform you that the Traditional Educational Association, upon the request of Rabbi Norman Lamm, has mailed to the UOJCI on…

Dear Mr. Penkar: Since you sent a copy of your letter of January 5 this year to me, I forwarded the copy to Chief Rabbi Nissim. He certainly will inform you. You are informed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs that all existing marriage difficulties between members of the Bene Israel and other parts of the Jewish population were abolished. On the part of the Chief Rabbinate, there are at present no cases of refusal. There are, however, a few rabbis who consider the decision of Chief Rabbi Nissim as not justified enough, and have even started a public opposition.I returned only a few days ago from a visit to the United States, where, among others, I took up with representatives of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Communities in America—Rabbi Dr. Weiss and Dr. Lamm—the problem of an Orthodox rabbi necessary for India.I was assured that the Union will see to a subsidy for this purpose. They prefer to have one of the young persons studying in the Yeshiva "Kol Israel" trained for this particular purpose and sent afterwards to India. Chief Rabbi Nissim accepted this idea but insisted that in the meantime another proper candidate be sent to India, since the young rabbi will require at least three years of training.He has now a new candidate for this position, a man who was born in America and has the necessary qualifications to become the spiritual leader of Indian Jewry.The candidate will come both to my office in another few days, and I shall then inform you and the Union of Orthodox Communities in America about my impressions and suggestions.It is not the habit of the World Jewish Congress to interfere with the existing differences of opinion in religious affairs in the various Jewish communities. Since you wrote to Chief Rabbi Nissim about your relations with Mr. Benjamin Ours, he certainly will inform you about his attitude.Our duty is merely to abolish the existing cases of discrimination and to help where our help is necessary in satisfying the religious needs of the…

Dear Chief Rabbi, It is with a feeling of deep concern that I write this letter to you, with a view that the situation shall receive your personal attention. Your Council of Rabbis have unanimously decided, it is understood from Dr. Tartakower, to have no difficulty in the performance of weddings of Bene Israel with other Jews in Israel, though I have not received a copy of the official decision. However, immediately on receipt of this information of the removal of the ban, Mr. A.D. Jhirad released the same to the Indian press.The Orthodox Union was very much concerned with the turn this problem was taking in Israel, and had it not been for the assurance of the R.C.A., it would have become very difficult for us to suppress the feeling here. It is very painful to note that the “problem,” it is understood, is raising its ugly head once again in Israel. Is there no means by which your Council can enforce their decision on the local Rabbinate or Beth Din?Kindly let me have your reply in the matter at an early date.Taking advantage of the above situation, the World Council of Conservative Synagogues, which is having its conference in Israel on 29/9/1962, will be in a position to attract many congregations, especially Bene Israel, on the ground of offering equal status.I do not know how the office of the Chief Rabbi or the Council of Rabbis in Israel feel about this new development. It is known that the Israeli Government does not much worry as far as the religious trend in Israel is concerned, but surely the Orthodox Rabbinate in Israel cannot remain silent over such a grave situation and thereby endorse Conservatism.The Reform movement has purchased land in Israel to build a temple; the Conservatives are to hold a conference, which is to be opened by an address by the President of Israel. Would it be difficult for them to attract new adherents in Israel or other countries, with all the pampering they would receive from the Israeli Government and no opposition—or even c…

Dear Dr. Weiss, Enclosed with this are one copy each of the following reports: (1) Budgetary Statement; (2) Receipt and Payment Account for the year ended 1961; (3) Report from Mr. Grossman about the classes; (4) The official receipt for Rs. 500.00. The year 1961 shows a surplus of Rs. 629/-, but if the amounts earmarked for the salary of the Hazzan of the Poona Synagogue, Rs. 1125/- collected for the students of the Bene Israel Yeshiva, and Rs. 53/- collected for the Hevra Kadisha Fund of the Congregation are deducted, it will be seen that there is actually a deficit of Rs. 1212/-.The salary for the classes for the period of July to December 1961 is still outstanding. Our contribution to the camp project remains Rs. 162/-.We are, therefore, left with a small balance of Rs. 500/- in our account, and feel confident that we should be able to collect some more once a meeting with Mr. Grossman can be organized. It may be possible to do so as soon as the weather permits.The classes are held regularly, and the students are taught how to read Hebrew and about Jewish laws and customs. They also sing songs and have discussions about religious topics. This is to replace Oneg Shabbath activities, as Mr. Grossman stays very far from the Synagogues. Similar meetings are being held in other Congregations after the Mincha services.We are grateful to Rabbi Lamm for the most generous offer of a knitting mill here. We shall work hard at it, and by the grace of the Almighty, we shall be able to start something very soon.Rabbi Lamm gave me to understand that my request about books, etc., has been forwarded to you.Mr. Grossman was not very communicative about the students whose travel expenses are to be borne by the JCA. Has the JCA stipulated any conditions for having undertaken to bear the expenses? We would very much like to use some of the Agency teachers in the rural areas.More in my next.With kindest regards,Sincerely yours,(A.D. JHIRAD)EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDr. S.H. WeissExecutive V…

Dear Mr. Maragaonkar, Thank you for your invitation to the Conference of certain individuals convened by you. Although the propriety of your convening such a Conference is questionable, I shall not discourage you by altogether ignoring the issue. I regret, however, that I shall not attend the said Conference. The stand taken by this organisation with regards to the Bene-Israel problem in Israel is indisputable and we shall continue to fight till the issue is satisfactorily settled.Mr. I—the Jewish Agency, Bombay—has neither the authority, I am sure, nor has he the power to direct the moves of Rabbis. Whatever may be the case, the Orthodox Union refused even to discuss with this subject, leave alone accept his Rabbi.However, to put the records straight and to try and set your mind at rest, permit me to inform you that it has been the desire of the Orthodox Union to get a Rabbi to serve our community in India. It has now become possible for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the Rabbinical Council of America, in collaboration with the Israeli Religious Ministry and the Jewish Agency in Israel, to arrange to deputize two Rabbis to India, of whom one is to stay for a period of one month and the other for four months. Before the second Rabbi leaves the shores of India, another Rabbi shall be with us for a period of at least two years, and before the departure of this Rabbi, our student Rabbi may be ordained and may return to India.All these Rabbis shall naturally be at the disposal of the entire community for all our religious problems, to guide us in the correct way of observing the different Misvoth and ceremonies, to attend to the husband-wife disputes, arrange Get whenever necessary, and also conversion according to the terms of Halacha.I, therefore, earnestly hope and pray that the Lord grant you wisdom not to rush headlong into conclusions which might be detrimental to the cause of the community as a whole.Yours sincerely,Sd/-(SAUL S. PENKAR…