My Dear Dr. Weiss: I am here now three days. I can’t begin to tell you the story of India, I could already fill volumes. I am somewhat depressed by the general scene in Bombay, but the Jewish community is a very painful experience to behold. They are really a darling community. Enthusiastic, warm and possessed with a tremendous thirst for knowledge. Since I have arrived I have been working 18 hours a day. I have had about six committee meetings, 4 private sessions and I delivered lectures at 4 public gatherings. Thank G-d in the public gatherings I have made quite an impression on them. In the private meetings and committee sessions, and they are long, I am attempting to lay the ground work for a formal organization of a U.O.J.C.I. I have brought together the Iraqi leadership and the B’nai Israel and thank G-d succeeded in having them agree to a Union which will take in the Iraqi congregations and the B’nai Israel. Also a council of 5 men will be established to whom all matters involving ? and מקוה will be referred for them to contact either the Rabbinate of Israel, or the Chief Rabbinate of England or us in America.So far 9 congregations have agreed to join representing about 10,000 of Bombay’s 15,000 Jews. One of Mr. Benjamin’s friends attended one of my lectures and when it was through he said "it looks as though you have begun to scrap the United Synagogues of India". If these congregations go through with what we have planned Mr. Benjamin will be left with a few small prayer halls.Now comes the real problem. These people are suffering of the worst poverty I have ever seen. Families of 7 and 8 live in one room. It’s simply heartbreaking. Religiously they are very enthusiastic but are completely ignorant. It’s a terrible situation. We must find someone at least a teacher to come over here, at all costs, this is a real need. 15,000 Jews without a rabbi and without a teacher.To combat the influence of the Conservatives and Reform, we must help them organize and th…

Dear Dr. Weiss: Things are going at a quick pace. I have addressed about 12 public meetings and have four more to go. The Conservatives have attempted to upset things numerous times but thank G-d to no avail. There is a great deal of inner conflict going on but much of it is slowly being solved. Really, this is a darling Jewish community and we must help them. The people simply are thirsty for the word of Torah. The poverty as I told you is shocking.I am still hoping that you were able to wire me the thousand dollars. It isn’t a great deal of money but it can go a long way. We want to rent quarters and it isn’t too expensive. Also I would like to buy at least 200 pair of Tefilin. Most of the B’nai Israel do not have Tefilin and they are now willing to put them on. We can buy them from Cochin for about $2.50 a pair.If you haven’t been able to wire the money until now then please wait till I return.Please have Moses Feuerstein read this letter.Best personal regards.Sincerely(signed) Charles WeinbergP.S. By the time you receive this letter I will probably be in Israel.

Dear Norman: I’m sorry I wasn’t in when you returned my call yesterday. I phoned you because I am running a news paragraph in World Over on the Union’s decision to send visiting rabbis to India. Since you will be the first incumbent, it struck me that you might be interested in serving as a free lance observer for World Over, one article, or several short ones on various aspects of Jewish life in India would make fascinating material for World Over. I do not mean an overall piece on the Bene Israel: we’ve had that. I am thinking about the things which only an on-the-scene participant could describe. I am as much concerned about photos as I am about the text. Good, glossy photographs of Jewish interest – faces, places, and things – would be very much in order. I enclose a recent issue of World Over in case you haven’t seen it lately, and I hope that you will find the proposal attractive. I look forward to hearing from you. With kind personal regards, Sincerely yoursDr. Morris Epstein EditorPublished by the JEWISH EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF NEW YORK, INC.426 West 58th Street, New York 19, N. Y. • Circle 5-8200

My dear Mr. Frank: I recently acceded to the request of U.O.J.C.A. to make a visit to India in order to speak to and help organize the Indian Jewish community. I wonder if I might impose upon you to volunteer year own services in some measure towards the reviving of traditional Judaism in a Jewish community neglected for over 2,000 years by their brethren of the West.Specifically, I would lite to haws fashioned for them a "Luach containing the following: the time for candle lighting and the time for Matzoa Shabbat, and the times for the beginning and end of the Yom Kippur Fast for several years to come. This has to be constructed especially for Bombay, but also for Calcutta, Delhi and Cochin.Do you think I can count upon your assistance in this matter? I hope to be leaving in January, please G-d. I am sure that both the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations and the Indian Jews will Join me in an expression of gratitude to you for your help.Sincerely yours,Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Jack: As you probably know I intend to leave for India in a few weeks, please God. I wonder if I can count on your assistance in one particular matter. I am interested in learning whatever historical material exists on the Bene Israel community. I know that not much has been written about them, but I would deeply appreciate your supplying me with whatever you can find at your earliest possible convenience.With warmest personal regards,Cordially,Rabbi Norman Lamm

Moetzet Harabanut Harashit hemlita sheen issur nisssuim im bnei Israel vechol harabanim messadre hanissuim lebarer kol mikre lefi oraot harabanut – nekuda tzarich lishloah rav laheda behdu habaki betiv guittin vekidushin – Harav Harashi Nissim.

Dear Dr. Weiss: I imagine you will receive this letter when I am already across the Atlantic, but I do want you to know how deeply I appreciate all your efforts in preparing my tour. It is so infrequent that a man in community work receives his due recognition that I don’t want to miss the opportunity to express my gratitude to one who so richly deserves commendation. Every aspect of the trip was handled with efficiency, courtesy, and dignity. Thank you, therefore, and please be assured of my lasting admiration. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Dear Rabbi Lamm, We are glad that you will be lecturing for us on Thursday, 2nd February, at 6.15 p.m. at Theosophy Hall on The Principles of Jewish Ethics. The lecture has been arranged under the joint auspices of two cultural bodies – The Indian Institute of World Culture and the P.E.N. All-India Centre – and the audience is cosmopolitan. I am giving you these particulars to enable you to make your exposition as universal and liberal as possible since it is unlikely that any of our members would be interested in the more technical or sectarian point of view.Looking forward to meeting you and with kind regards,Yours sincerely,Sophia Wadia

Respected Sir, Please permit me to extend to you on behalf of all the members of Bath Talmud Torah and myself my gratitude and thanks for your kind visit to our institution on Saturday the 28th January 1961. I would like to relate to you the activities of this institution. It was founded 16 years ago by a group of enthusiastic young men, as the elderly who were more advanced in the knowledge of Torah had their own institution known as the "Yeshiva".A room was sub-rented for the purpose of carrying out our activities. A committee was formed and it was decided to name it "Beth Talmud Torah״. A monthly membership of Rs. 1.00 or Rs. 2.00 has been collected from those who could afford it, while the poor class ware admitted free of charge. With this small income we have struggled all these years barely able to save much after meeting rental and electrical charges and other petty expences incurred during the month. Since November 1960 we have formed a new committee and we made frantic efforts to enroll new members. Undoubtedly we have succeeded in our efforts and today we are receiving Rs. 90.00 as subscription every month, which is almost 100% success.We conduct Parasha classes for small children every Saturday morning and we conduct Mosaey Shabath prayers on Saturday evenings regularly. This service is conducted by turn from amongst the crowd who are regular visitors.We also have a master teaching Modern Hebrew once a weak. Besides this we conduct Hebrew classes 4 times a week for beginners and juniors. A nominal fee of Rs. 5.00 per month for each child is charged and 90% of the proceeds are paid to the Master as compensation. At the moment we have 20 youngsters attending these classes.We celebrate 2 important festivals during the year.Ieilianoth (New Year of Trees)Lag La Omer.Both these festivals are celebrated with the help of small individual donations collected during the period and invitations are extended to all Jews irrespective whether they are members or not.On…

Dear Mr. ______, I am writing this Letter to you in your capacity as President of _____. As you well know, throughout my three weeks stay in India I have emphasised time and again the need for all of us to expand our educational facilities in order to ensure our survival as Jews. To that end the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America is willing to extend its assistance to the various synagogues through the offices of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of India We shall be working together in a cooperative venture. We wish to encourage you In every way to provide these facilities for both youths and adults.However, it is necessary for the Indian Jews themselves to take the initiative. As I have mentioned in my talks, every synagogue must accept upon itself the obligation to assist in the education of its young. May I therefore respectfully request you to give your complete cooperation to our newly appointed Executive Director and Secretary Mr. A.D. Jhirad. He will be contacting you in an attempt to use the facilities of the synagogue for classes and lectures. If every synagogue will make at least some effort to assist in the programme, we in America as well as in Israel will be glad to do more than our share.For the sake of our people and our Torah I know that you will spare no effort in putting these plans into effect. Please accept my very best personal regards and wishes for success.Sincerely yours.(Rabbi Norman Lamm)