Tuesday, 17-1-1961: Arrival at Santa Cruz Airport, 9.30 A.M.; Welcome representatives of various institutions (at Sir Elly Kadoorie School), 7.30 P.M. Wednesday, 18-1-1961: Leave Bombay (V.T.) By Deccan Express, 7.10 A.M.; Arrive Poona, 11.20 A.M.; Visit to Succath Shelomo Synagogue (Prayers and Sermon), 6.30 P.M. Thursday, 19-1-1961: Leave Poona by Deccan Queen, 7.25 A.M.; Arrive Bombay V.T., 10.30 A.M.

Rabbi Norman Lamm is expected to visit India some time in January 1961 on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. Rabbi Lamm is an Associate Rabbi of the famous Jewish Centre in New York City together with Rabbi Leo Jung. He is the Editor of TRADITION, a scholarly publication of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rabbi Lamm is an outstanding orator and lecturer on Jewish Law and Jewish Philosophy. He is one of America’s leading young orthodox Rabbis.

Rabbi Norman Lamm came to Bombay on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America in order to assist in the setting up of a Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of India and to give such assistance to the latter body as the former body was capable of. The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of India has since been successfully established at Bombay. Pursuant to a pressing request made to him by Mr. Ellis Meyer the Rabbi kindly visited Calcutta and it was made known to him that the problem of the Calcutta community was to find a suitable Teacher, Sofer, Mohal and Shohet. If therefore somebody with all the qualifications enumerated could be persuaded to come to Calcutta that would be of very great assistance nay essential to the community. The Rabbi came to Calcutta and in a meeting with certain leading members of the community suggested that the Synagogues should affiliate to the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of India with a Vice-President for Calcutta. He suggested further that a Beth Din should be set up as a lay cody which would be governed by certain guiding principles which he, in consultation with Dr. Gaon of London would formulate. He suggested that a meeting of the Governing Body of the Jewish Association of Calcutta should be called at which the above proposals could be considered and further that the meeting of the community fixed for the 19th February 1961 should be adjourned until the guiding principles also mentioned above could be sent to the community in order that persons who are candidates for election to the Beth Din would seek such election on the footing that the Beth Din would be guided by such principles. It was made clear however by Rabbi Lamm that the Beth Din could seek guidance as heretofore from London or Israel or indeed anywhere else it wished. A meeting of the Governing Body of the Jewish Association of Calcutta took place on the 12th February 1961 when it was decided to recommend to the Synagogues that t…

I. Introduction: (1) The communities visited in the course of this mission were: London, both going to and coming from India; in India: Bombay, Calcutta, New Delhi, Poona, Ahmedabad, and the towns and villages north of Bombay; and in Israel: Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, and Tel Aviv. (2) The reception given to me as an emissary of the Union and of RCA was most enthusiastic – people are immensely flattered and encouraged by our interest in them. The crowds at my talks – and they numbered over thirty in the three weeks I was there – were large and receptive, both in Bombay and elsewhere.(3) Population FiguresIt is difficult to give exact figures. The new national census in India will take place this year, and then we shall be in a position to obtain more precise information. We can approximate that there are about 22,000 Jews in all of India, of whom 18,000 reside in and around Bombay (including Thana), about 1,000 in Calcutta and the rest dispersed in Poona, Ahmedabad and smaller centers. Of these probably 19,000 are Bene Israels and 3,000 of Sephardi origin, mostly Baghdadi, with some from Syria, Egypt, Yemen, etc. The Iraqi community is quickly disintegrating due to emigration to England, Australia, Canada and Israel. Some Bene Israels are leaving but not in large numbers.(4) Division in the CommunityThe antagonism between Bene Israels and Baghdadis is perhaps not as sharp as it used to be but is still a force that must be reckoned with. In the UOJCI it is true, we have merged both groups. Nevertheless, this is mostly a formal arrangement and there is yet place for improvement.The Indian Jews, in general, have a tendency to argumentation ad hominem. Perhaps the lack of organized entertainment, such as we know it in the West, causes them to seek an outlet in this manner. Thus, in addition to the ancient rivalry between both communities, the Jewish community now suffers two more splits: one the Orthodox-Conservative-Liberal division, and an ugly battle over the control of…

Present: Moses I. Feuerstein, presiding; Dr. Jacob Griffel, Mr. Ludwig Jesselson, Rabbi Norman Lamm, Rabbi Zev Segal, Rabbi Solomon J. Sharfman, Dr. Samson R. Weiss. In the absence of Mr. Max Stern, the Commission chairman, Mr. Moses I. Feuerstein presided and opened the meeting at 9:05 p.m. Mr. Feuerstein gave a condensed review of the activities of the Commission in the following areas: India – Bene Israel communities, UOJCI; Israel – the Youth Aliyah problem; Western Europe – Chief Rabbis Conference, cooperation with the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of Europe, COJO Conference in Geneva; Russia – meeting with U.N. Under Secretary Narasimhan. Mr. Feuerstein stressed the need to organize the variegated work of the Commission through the assignment of “desks” to competent leaders, each serving the Commission as the expert in his respective field. Thus far, the following desks have been established: India – Rabbi Norman Lamm; Western Europe – Rabbi Simon Langer; Israel – Rabbi Zev Segal; Russia – Rabbi Theodore L. Adams. Mr. Feuerstein reported that Rabbi Solomon J. Sharfman had agreed to handle the Central and South American desk. After a brief discussion based on Dr. Weiss’s report of conversations with individuals familiar with the Central and South American Jewish scene, it was decided in principle – on a motion by Mr. Ludwig Jesselson, seconded by Rabbi Lamm – that Rabbi Sharfman personally undertake a tour of Jewish communities in Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina to establish contact with key personalities. The purpose of the trip would be to investigate the feasibility of and possibly lay the groundwork for a South American Conference of Orthodox Synagogues. Dr. Weiss undertook to prepare this visit for July and August, contingent on Rabbi Sharfman being available for at least six weeks. Rabbi Norman Lamm reported on developments in India. A pressing issue in the Bene Israel community is the lack of employment opportunities that do not in…

Present: Mr. Max Stern, presiding; Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits, Rabbi Norman Lamm, Rabbi Simon Langer, Mr. Manfred Lehmann, Dr. Samson R. Weiss. Guest: Haham Dr. Solomon Gaon. Excused absences: Dr. William W. Brickman, Mr. Moses I. Feuerstein, Mr. Ludwig Jesselson, Rabbi Leo Jung, Rabbi Joseph Karasick, Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, Rabbi Zev Segal, Rabbi Solomon J. Sharfman. Mr. Max Stern, chairman of the Joint Overseas Commission, called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. He welcomed the distinguished guest, Haham Dr. Solomon Gaon, and thanked him for attending the meeting. Mr. Stern stated that the agenda lent specific significance to the Haham’s presence. He also welcomed Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits, who had recently been in England on a lecture tour and met with rabbinic and lay leaders of the Orthodox Jewish community. Dr. Weiss explained that many members were unable to attend due to Chanukah functions and other urgent matters, but the meeting was held nonetheless due to Mr. Stern’s impending travel and the importance of decisions needing to be made. Rabbi Norman Lamm gave a brief report on the Indian situation, noting the community’s urgent need for a qualified rabbi to oversee gittin and kiddushin. Chief Rabbi Nissim had not yet found someone acceptable to both himself and the Bene Israel community. Rabbi Lamm had recently received confidential letters from Mr. Albert Menasseh, president of the UQJCI, and Mr. Israel Kelman of the Bombay office of the Jewish Agency, proposing Rabbi Silas, a native of Calcutta and currently assistant to Haham Gaon. Rabbi Lamm discussed this with the Haham, who affirmed that although Rabbi Silas was young and relatively inexperienced, he was well-qualified, having studied in Israeli yeshivot and received semikha from the late Rabbi Pesach Zvi Frank and from Chief Rabbi Nissim. The Haham believed that despite Rabbi Silas being an Iraqi Jew, his association with the Haham’s office – known for its sympathy toward the Bene Israel – would ma…