Dear Louis: While I am most happy to send a check for Yeshivat Achuzat Yaakov, I do hope you will permit me to add a few personal observations. I admire the dedication of yourself and other members of the committee in getting support for a most worthy institution. Your commitments and your efforts certainly deserve the gratitude of all of us although, unfortunately, such work is usually thankless. Nevertheless, I do not feel that we of the RCA ought to engage in the particular mode of fundraising which you have undertaken on this project. I am always annoyed when I receive trinkets by mail. To receive unsolicited books is bad enough, but to be coerced into eating candy and honey, buying challah-covers and tablecloths, singing from unwanted zemirot booklets, and now utilizing unordered Channakah menorahs – is Just too much. It does not, it seems to me, befit the dignity of either Louis Bernstein or the RCA to engage in this kind of technique. Perhaps a few more people will respond, and perhaps those who would respond anyway will give two or three more dollars; but the loss of good will and the resentment engendered outweighs, I believe, the additional funds so collected.I hope you do not mind ray putting these observations into writing. I do so only because I rely upon our friendship which should make such apologies unnecessary.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMRNL/fz

To: The Honorable L. Brezhnev, The Rabbinical Council of America and its one thousand members and congregations they represent throughout the United States and Canada most urgently request your personal intervention on behalf of Dr. Beniamin Schapira, Belgorod UL Frunze 21 KV. 37, U.S.S.R. who has been seeking permission to emigrate to Israel. We know his aged parents in Tel Aviv who are heartbroken at the separation of the family. We plead you exercise influence and expedite his emigration.Rabbi Louis BernsteinPresident, Rabbinical Council of America