Email from Rabbi Chaim Miller to Marissa Poock with book blurbs for 'Turning Judaism Outwards'

Aaron I. Reichel, an attorney, writes to Prof. Wiesel to request an interview for a chapter in the forthcoming English translation of the biography of Chief Rabbi Emeritus Shear Yashuv Cohen. The biography is already in its second Hebrew printing, and the new chapter will focus on Rabbi Cohen's impact through his international travels as a fundraiser, lecturer, and advocate for Jewish unity. Reichel provides a list of questions for Prof. Wiesel, covering various aspects of his interactions and impressions of Rabbi Cohen, including personal anecdotes, his roles as a scholar and unifier, and invitations. Prof. Wiesel is asked to provide responses that would be interesting or inspirational for the book and can choose to respond by phone or in person. Reichel prefers to be contacted by email or snail mail at his Kew Gardens address, or by text message.

This document is a personal reflection from an unnamed author detailing their spiritual journey and encounters with prominent Hasidic rebbes. The author recounts growing up as a hassid in Sighet and visiting Rebbe Haim-Meir’l of Wizsnitz in Gross-Vardain, Romania, with their mother. These visits, particularly spending Shabbat at his court, left a lasting impression, shaping their understanding of Nigunim and fostering a sense of belonging to that community. Later, the author chose to connect with Lubavitch, deeply valuing conversations with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose questions, listening skills, and power of concentration profoundly impacted them. The author states that their first encounter with the Lubavitcher Rebbe transformed them into a 'Lubavitcher' without needing to leave Wizsnitz. The document emphasizes the profound impression these rebbes had, highlighting their reassuring presence, intense listening, and fervent desire to provide advice, guidance, and reassurance to those in need.

Writing to her sister-in-law Maria, Rebecca compares her own and her niece's outlook on life and tells of a Christian woman's hope to convert her. She also commends her brother Ben for purchasing two female slaves to remove them from their dire circumstances.

Ina Rothschild talks about her life, education and work in Germany after World War I. Both women lived through Hitler’s rise to power, starting in the 1920s, experienced changes in Jewish life after 1933, and explain the effects of these events on the Jewish community and their interaction with Gentiles. Elsa Jaeckel’s husband, a Gentile, refused to divorce her and suffered the consequences. She mentions a group of Jews in Frankfurt who committed suicide to avoid deportation in 1941. Throughout the interview, Mrs. Rothschild cites many instances of aid and acts of kindness by Gentiles. Mrs. Rothschild and her husband ran a Jewish orphanage in Esslingen am Neckar, near Stuttgart from 1933 to 1942 when they were deported. The orphanage was ransacked on November 9, 1938. Her husband was beaten, arrested, but later released to care for the displaced orphans. She describes what happened to the children in their care. Elsa Jaeckel had to work for the Gestapo with 600 other Jewish women who had gentile husbands. She talks about conditions for couples in mixed marriages and living through air raids in Frankfurt. She avoided the transport to Theresienstadt because her husband bribed a former SA man to let her hide in his house. She hid in the attic until the Americans came in 1945. When the orphanage was closed, the Rothschilds returned to Stuttgart. She describes their lives, her work in an old age home, and her attempts to care for Jewish children. Many of the children, especially the retarded ones, were deported and killed at Ravensburg. The Rothschilds were deported to an Old Age Home in Theresienstadt on August 22, 1942. She describes the process, the actual transport, arrival at Theresienstadt, and brutal treatment and living conditions which improved once the International Red Cross supervised this institution. She saw Reinhard Heydrich shoot Jewish prisoners. Ina Rothschild worked as a nurse, her husband died in July 1944. Many inmates killed themselves. Ina mentions attempts to care for newborn babies. She also volunteered to care for 50 young children from Holland with typhoid fever together with a Jewish doctor. The children survived and were adopted after the war. She was transported to Switzerland with 600 people in February 1945. Elsa came to the United States in 1957, Ina in 1947. Note: Collateral Material available through the Gratz College Tuttleman Library: Scanned copy of a German letter and the translation.

Rebecca writes to her sister-in-law Ann, detailing the clothing and food she is sending her, her children, and friends. She also tells of her brothers' disappointment after Henry Clay's loss of the presidential election.