Organizations

The Organizations Series (12.2 linear feet, 1979-1999) constitutes the majority of the collection and includes the files of eighteen organizations with which Belin had official roles and/or preserved significant amounts of materials. The following subseries have substantial materials in this series:

American Jewish Committee (AJC) files (.8 linear feet, 1979-1998) consist primarily of AJC publications and general correspondence. It also includes correspondence with Steven Bayme, the director of the Jewish Communal Affairs Department of AJC. The AJC published numerous titles concerning outreach and intermarriage; Belin's correspondence with the AJC centers on these matters.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) files (.6 linear feet, 1983-1998) contain primarily correspondence with Rabbi Joseph Glaser, Executive Vice President, who was responsible for the joint UAHC -- CCAR Commission on Reform Jewish Outreach. The correspondence primarily concerns outreach issues as they affected rabbis, such as rabbinic officiation at the marriage of Jews and non-Jews and educating rabbis about outreach.

The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion files (0.2 linear feet, 1979-1998) contain meeting minutes and correspondence with Eugene Mihaly, HUC-JIR Professor of Theology. They also contain published sermons and addresses concerning Reform positions on theological issues.

Jewish Foundation for Christian Rescuers (JFCR) files (.7 linear feet, 1988-1998) consist of Executive Committee meeting minutes and correspondence. Correspondence concerns general publicity for programming and educational forums sponsored by the JFCR. They also concern the separation of JFRC from its parent organization, the Anti-Defamation League. Correspondents include Rabbi Harvey Shulweis, founder of the JFCR, Stanlee Stahl, JFRC director, and Robert Goodkind, fellow board member.

The Jewish Outreach Institute files (2.1 linear feet, 1988-1998) illustrate Belin's role as co-founder, president and chief fundraiser. Its files contain mission statements, administrative documents, executive committee minutes, budget materials, and correspondence with potential funders. The vast majority of correspondence is between Belin and Egon Mayer, the Director of JOI. Of interest is a letter Egon Mayer sent to Barbara Belin soon after David Belin's death, describing the beginning of his association with Belin and the founding of JOI. There are additional files concerning the major JOI-sponsored activities: national conferences, public opinion surveys, publications, educational materials, as well as topical files to support these activities.

The National Jewish Coalition files (0.1 linear feet, 1994-1998) reveal Belin's efforts to build a pro-choice base within the National Republican Party.

The National Jewish Outreach Program file (1 folder, 1986-1994) consists of a single folder and contains outreach materials from this Orthodox Jewish organization.

Temple B'nai Jeshurun files (0.2 linear feet, 1970-1998) consist primarily of correspondence regarding internal Temple affairs, however, Temple B'nai Jeshurun also played a national role in Jewish outreach. In 1997, it sponsored a resolution at the UAHC biennial General Assembly supporting rabbinic officiation at marriage ceremonies where the children will be raised as Jews. This congregational resolution helped Belin bypass the UAHC Resolutions Committee and brought the controversial issue of rabbinic officiation at intermarriages to the attention of the General Assembly. Files concerning this matter can be found in this subseries and in the files of the UAHC Resolutions Committee.

The Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) subseries (7.3 linear feet, 1977-1998) is the largest subseries in the collection. It is sub-divided into subseries pertaining to the Board of Trustees, Correspondence, Committees, and Publications. Committees are similarly subdivided. The UAHC is the central organization of the Reform movement. Belin served as an officer of its board and as such corresponded over many years with Rabbi Alexander Schindler, President of the UAHC, Mel Merians, Chairman of the Board, and Allan Goldman, chairman of the Executive Committee. Belin also was a member of the Executive, Budget, Endowment, and Investment Committees. The UAHC files include minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee, UAHC financial reports, and fund-raising records. Belin also worked closely with the Education Committee, corresponding with Rabbi Daniel Syme, director of the UAHC Commission of Jewish Education and later senior vice president of the UAHC.

The UAHC-CCAR Task Force on Reform Jewish Outreach files (1.8 linear feet, 1981-1997) record the bulk of the outreach work of David Belin. The Task Force was later called the Commission on Reform Jewish Outreach; in this finding aid, both are referred to as the "Outreach Committee." Belin chaired this committee from its creation in 1978 until 1988 when he left and to begin the Jewish Outreach Institute. Correspondence includes letters between Belin, other committee members, and Directors Lydia Kukoff and Dru Greenwood. There are also valuable letters between Belin and the wider Reform Jewish community that Belin actively engaged to promote outreach. Correspondence concerning Outreach Committee publications constitute a significant portion of the files. Other significant files include drafts of the Outreach Task Force Report of 1981. These drafts include the revisions to and comments by members of the task force. Finally, this sub-subseries includes rich topical files about rabbinic officiation at marriages between Jews and non-Jews.

The Resolutions Committee sub-subseries (0.2 linear foot, 1991-1997) consists almost exclusively of correspondence between the Resolution Committee and Belin surrounding the 1997 resolution put forth by Temple B'nai Jeshurun supporting rabbinic officiation.

The Search Committee records (0.4 linear feet, 1994-1995) include materials submitted by applicants for the position of President of the UAHC and some correspondence between committee members. These résumés, essays, and letters of interest offer valuable portraits of Reform Jewish leaders at this period.

The Social Action files (0.4 linear feet, 1978-1997) consist primarily of topical files that Belin collected in the 1980s related to progressive social issues. They also include publications concerning Jewish identity and outreach.

Belin was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. Its files (0.5 linear feet, 1986-1994) present the long range vision of the UAHC as it addresses the demographic shifts in American Jewry.

The Publications sub-subseries of the UAHC files (0.5 linear feet, 1976-1993) consists of booklets, pamphlets, newsletters, magazines, monographs, and educational materials published by the UAHC.

The World Union for Progressive Judaism files (1.6 linear feet, 1979-1998) include correspondence with international Reform Jews, and records about the incorporation of the North American Board of the WUPJ. Information about the relationship between Reform Judaism and Israel can be found in this subseries.