Dear Rabbi Lamm: The tenants and the superintendent of my residence building have suggested that the residents of West 86th Street together with the Society For The Advancement of Judaism, the Church on Amsterdam Avenue and the Jewish Center get together to approach the city for the following. First, to have the city install the same type of lighting on West 86th Street as they have installed on 72nd and 79th Streets. The new lights in the 70's make midnight appear as midday. Second, that some effort be made to have the street cleaned properly by the Department of Sanitation. Third, those of us who suffer from two and three parking tickets every week would like to know why Commissioner Kretchmar gets away with parking his car in a bus stop in front of a church and the car is never tagged. Since you and I suffer from the malaise of parking tickets, it might be worthwhile rubbing this under Councilman Weiss' nose.Perhaps with community action we can get cleaner and brighter streets.With kind personal regards, I remain,Sincerely,Martin SchwarzschildMS:eg

My dear Mr. Lederman, Several weeks ago you came to my office and graciously volunteered your services where and when needed. I now find that we are most anxious for your services and particularly wish to benefit from your knowledge of languages. As you may know, a large number of Jewish families have emigrated to New York and are now housed in several hotels in this area. We need several people to assist our overworked committee in helping these Russian Jews by offering advice, talking with them, and generally helping them adjust to a new environment.I know that I can count on you. Please be kind enough to contact Mr. Martin Schwarzschild (telephone: 362-9408). If you will be attending services at The Center during these next few days, please ask one of the ushers to point Mr. Schwarzschild to you.I thank you for your services and wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMcc: Mr. M. Schwarzschild

Dear Professor Ginsberg: I am pleased to send you enclosed some documents relating to [redacted] and about whom I spoke to you this afternoon. I have met [redacted] and found him to be a most pleasant and presentable person. Some dear friends of mine know him personally and can vouch for his integrity. Anything that you can possibly do to help him would be most deeply appreciated. Thank you very much. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Professor Morgenthau: I have been trying to reach you for several days by telephone, but with complete lack of success. I was trying to verify whether or not you are associated with an organization that assists émigrés from the Soviet Union. On the possibility that you do, permit me to refer to you [redacted]. I have met him and he makes an excellent impression as a decent, presentable, and honorable man. I take the privilege of sending you some material about him, in the hope that somehow you will be able to be of assistance.Should you not be able to do so, you need not bother to return the enclosed material.Cordially,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:cw

Dear Rabbi, You are aware of the fact that for approximately four months, together with a few other people of the original West Side Committee to help the Russian immigrants, I have been devoting more than full time to seeking positions, counseling, helping locate apartments, sending children to schools, and in other ways attempting to assist these people and their children to integrate as quickly as possible – to the community, the city, and our American way of life. Without your constant help and morale boosting this would not have been possible.I have hinted to you that cooperation from NYANA is nearly non-existent — they appreciate the fact that we have obtained some four or five dozen jobs for various people — but they in no way ease or smooth our paths by cooperation.The attached was written prior to today. This afternoon, I was told that a Mr. Marvin Schrank at BIAS made the statement that the "west side group is doing more harm than good for Russian immigrants."Under the circumstances, I recommend that the group cease from helping these people. Not one of us desires to be party to "doing harm" to these people. I personally will turn my efforts to what I hope will be more productive and worthwhile ends.I would like to see, if you have the opportunity, to suggest to the proper influential people what the attitude of the professionals at NYANA and BIAS is.Sincerely,Martin Kchmarrschild144 West 86 StreetNew York, New York 10024Queries for your meeting with NYANA's officers or lay people:Why doesn’t every breadwinner get English immediately upon arrival? When this question was raised, the response at the meeting on January 24 was that some of these people do not have the ability to take the course at the school NYANA is using. It would seem to me that this is a) not so, and b) NYANA could find a school where they could learn.NYANA will not give me a list of people in the hotels. I am aware of the reason behind this policy, agree with it 1000%, but have found th…

Dear [redacted], I read with interest your letter to Mr. E. I. Farber. I do not believe anything at all will be gained by your talking to Mr. Schwartzchild personally, if what you have in mind is mollifying him because NYANA did not choose to employ him. Quite frankly, it was my idea and initiative to begin with, and Mr. Schwartzchild was most reluctant even to allow me to proceed, let alone to agree in advance to such employment. Understandably, he could not conceivably enter into such a relationship at the present time.I wish to reiterate what I said to you during our lengthy telephone conversation. NYANA has failed and is failing to make sufficient use of volunteers. I recognize full well the problems inherent in professional-volunteer relationships, and yet I cannot believe either on moral or professional grounds that volunteers should be discouraged or that professional workers are beyond criticism.I trust that you take these words, as well as the telephone conversation I previously alluded to, in the spirit in which I intend it. The Russian emigration represents the first major influx of Jewish immigrants to this country in a long time, and it is in their interest alone that I have encouraged volunteers and begun these discussions with you.Cordially,RABBI NORMAN LAMM

Dear Michael and Rickey, I have long been concerned by developments in the neighborhood. The welfare and future of The Jewish Center is inextricably tied up with developments on the West Side. I feel that it is not enough for us to react, but we must be "on top of things" insofar as neighborhood developments are concerned. The officers of The Center have asked me to invite the two of you to constitute a committee that will be involved both in the Planetarium Neighborhood Council and in seeking out information about the new construction that is going on in Columbus Avenue, West End Avenue, and elsewhere, which might affect us and potential membership.A gentleman who does not belong to The Center, but who joins us frequently for services and classes, Mr. Herbert Lauer, has taken the trouble to write to me about some of these matters. Another young man who has expressed an interest in these matters, and similarly joins us for services frequently though he is not a member, is Dr. Stanley Ocken of 107 West 86th Street. He too might be pressed into service.I am sending you xeroxed copies of the material I received from Mr. Lauer, as well as some of the documents relating to the Planetarium Council.I earnestly request of you that you both accept this commission. It involves representing The Center at the appropriate times, keeping in contact with each other with an eye to informing us when we must take action, and what can be done so as to enhance the membership potential of The Jewish Center.May I count on you for this? Please do be kind enough to contact each other and then let me hear from you. Your telephone numbers are as follows:Mr. Burak – H: 799-2607; O: 516-536-3030Mr. Swergold – H: TR7-1902My best regards to your families.Cordially,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:cwEnc.cc: Mr. Max SternMr. Lawrence KobrinMr. Martin Schwarzschild

Dear Ed: It has been many years since we’ve talked, and since I was affiliated with Spruce Hill in its infancy, I understand that things have been going quite well since. I would like to take this opportunity to extend to you my very warmest thanks and most sincere appreciation for the full scholarship you have offered to the Russian child, [redacted], to attend Spruce Hill for the summer. As you know, we have a great deal of Russian-Jewish immigrants in our area of Manhattan, and it is a source of encouragement and inspiration to us when others from outside the area join us in trying to make their absorption into our midst as smooth and pleasant as possible. I hope you will have a very successful summer and a very happy year following. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

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