Identifer: CJF.2012.002.1806A-B

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Agudas HaRabonim (The Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada); Letters to and from Rabbi Silver

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Front:

RESIDENCE: 1427 BENSON DRIVE DAYTON, OHIO 45406 PHONE 277-5048 
 
PAUL J. HAAS 
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT 
MEMBER: NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS SOCIETY OF OHIO 
June 8, 1966. 
 
OFFICE: 1829 WEBSTER STREET DAYTON, OHIO 45404 PHONE 223-9401
 
Rabbi Samuel Fox, c/o Beth Jacob Synagogue, 1350 Kumler Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, 45406, 
 
Dear Rabbi Fox:  
I deeply appreciate your invitation to the Barmitzvoh of your son Yaakauv, which will be held this coming Schabbos, but I regret my inability to accept it. As per your statement, this meal is catered by Mrs. Nabulsky, and there is no constant supervision. As you well know, Mrs. Nabulsky is not a Schaumer Schabbos, and tradition demands constant supervision during the preparation of the meal in such a case. In other words, you know and I know, and you know that I know, and I know that you know, that such a meal is as "TREFE as CHASSER", and common sense will tell you, that I would not partake of such a meal. 
As you know, I have previously turned down three similar invitations to Barmitzvohs in your synagogue, because they were also as "TREFE as CHASSER", due to lack of proper supervision. I find it most uncondonable, that you, an individual, who considers himself an "orthodox rabbi", can be guilty of such a serious violation of Jewish tradition. I would have far more respect for you, if you would serve ham and bacon for that meal. At least, you would not fool the people who attend this Barmitzvoh, and who believe it is koscher, when it is actually as "TREFE as CHASSER" 
My only hope, at this point, is that your son Yaakauv, who has studied at the Chofez Chaim Day School in Cincinnati, will not follow in the evil ways of his father, and will truly become a strict orthodox Jew. 

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Rabbi Samuel Fox 
June 8, 1966 Page 2 
 
Your conduct as a rabbi is a disgrace to the American rabbinate, and especially so to the orthodox rabbinate. The reputation, that you and your congregation have established for orthodoxy in Dayton proves that point very distinctly. Your congregation does not even pay its dues to the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations. We find it difficult to get good teachers for Hillel Academy here in Dayton, because any candidate for teacher, who checks on Dayton, learns that the so called orthodox rabbi only gives lip service to the Day School, and doesn't get along with any principal, which the school hires. 
As you well know, you never got along with Rabbi Bertram Leff, our past principal, and you don't get along with our present principal, Rabbi William Millen, who is truly an orthodox rabbi, not only in name, but in action. 
In other cities, the orthodox rabbi goes out and helps to raise money for the day school, and is not too proud to do so. Here the day school cannot even rent your synagogue for a decent rental fee, and wants to charge six times as much as the conservative synagogue charges. And you have not made one move against this evil practice. In Europe or in Israel, you would not be a rabbi for five minutes. Your only concern as a rabbi is whether you get your pay check on time. The only hope for orthodoxy in Dayton is this new Young Israel congregation. I worked on its creation, and I hope it will grow from strength to strength, In view of the fact that your congregation condones such low practices that you have instituted, I can only find it a disgrace to belong to it. So at this time, I am resigning as a member of your congregation as of today. 
 
With best wishes, I am 
 
PJH 
 
Sincerely yours 
Paul J. Haas 
CC: Rabbi Eliezer Silvery/ Rabbinical Council of America Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Rabbi Jack Riemer Rabbi William Millen