MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT
to the
FIRST ANNUAL KALLAH CONVENTION OF TEXAS RABBIS
There was a custom among the Rabbis of Talmudical times to meet twice a year, at the end of the winter and at the end of the summer, for the purpose of discussing scholarly and rabbinical problems. They met at Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylon, where, at that time, Jewish learning and Jewish institutions were centered.
The conference lasted for a month at a time, and these periods were called the days of the Kallah. The rabbis in their allegorical manner, compared the Torah to a bride, the rabbinical scholars who convened—to bridegrooms, and the discussions—to a wedding ceremony. Thus, the term Kallah became synonymous to a Rabbinical convention (see Rabbi Hannanel, Tractate Taanith, 10b.)
We, of today, have also many scholarly problems which we wish to discuss and solve. However, since our rabbinical work is so strenuous, and our time so very limited, we must be satisfied to meet only once a year for the purpose of exchanging views along the lines of Jewish scholarship.
When the idea of such a convention first came to me, I was doubtful whether the Texas rabbis would respond to the call. But a short correspondence with a few of them convinced me that my worthy colleagues felt the need of a Kallah as much as I did. Allow me to take this opportunity of thanking you for the co-operation and support you have given me from the very beginning of this movement.
True, this Convention is a small, modest beginning, but only small in quantity, in KAMUTH and not in quality, in EKUT. It fills my heart with pride and joy to see rabbis, whose opinions and conceptions of Judaism, vary so widely, all united, for the sake of higher Jewish learning and scholarship.
The old greeting Shalom Shalom lorohok velakarov, is appropriate at the Kallah Convention: Peace, peace, to those of you who are far from us, who are rehokim and differ with us—and please God, will further differ—on a good many points; and peace, peace to those of you who agree with us, who are karovim to us in your conception of Judaism. Shalom to all of you!
We all come to the convention laying aside our important communal work, in search of that spiritual nourishment, of which our Kallah, I hope, will be the repository. We come here with the attempt to cast off and forget Jor the moment the burden of the engrossing cares of our daily lives; we come here to listen and discuss things that are lasting and enduring. And so, no matter what may divide and separate us throughout the year—at the Kallah Convention we are united.
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