Home Home / Exchange about R. Jakobovits's Lecture on "Religious Responses to the Holocaust" (1987)

Correspondence

December 1987

Exchange about R. Jakobovits's Lecture on "Religious Responses to the Holocaust" (1987)

Reflections on the Shoah Biographical Material

1. Ida Schwartz to Shimon Cohen

1. Ida Schwartz to Shimon Cohen (Dec. 7, 1987)

1. Ida Schwartz to Shimon Cohen (None)

View The Text

This content is currently available in its original PDF format. As we expand the library, we plan to add a text version as well.

Next Letter

RELATED CONTENT

Correspondence

Exchange with Anonymous Correspondent on "The Face of God" (1987)

I recently read the transcript of the first part of a lecture that you gave at the Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women on 6 May 1986. This appeared in the Jewish Press on 9 January 1987, which I have only now come across. The title of the article is "The Face of G-d: Thoughts on the Holocaust." At the outset I would like to make three introductory comments: (1) Please forgive me if you take any offence at my remarks. I am privileged to have read a number of your works and admire them greatly. (2) In discussing your attitude to the Holocaust, I must stress that I feel as bewildered as any other second-generation "survivor" by the events and do not conceive of any alternative approach to that offered by yourself. (3) I do not have the whole series of articles before me and imagine that a more "balanced thesis" may be shown by the series as a whole (incidentally, is your 6 May address publicly available?).**1.** You have brushed away the answer of *midah keneged midah* with regard to the Holocaust too simply. For example, you write:*"How dare anyone even suggest that any 'sin' committed by any significant faction of European Jewry was worthy of all the pain and anguish and depth..."*Surely you are aware of all the *Midrashim* which associated the most terrible personal tragedies with certain sins.a) For example, we say in our *Machzor* on *Yom Kippur*...Do you believe that the punishments "fit the crime"?The only conceivable parallel to the Holocaust was the *Churban Bayit Sheini*, which is detailed in great extent. Were the *Tannaim* responsible for that Holocaust? Were their suggestions impudent and insensitive? And yet, they held specific sins responsible.The *Gemara* (Gittin 56) wrote that the reason for the *Churban* was because of talking during *Keriat HaTorah*. Where is the arrogance in that? Was that sin worthy of all the anguish and death visited upon them by the Romans or Chmielnicki?**2.** In general philosophical terms, you write:"In sum, if we as…
Reflections on the Shoah Biographical Material

Correspondence

Exchange with R. Jakobovits about Jewish Chronicle Reporting and R. Lamm's Views on Divine Revelation (1969)

Dear Immanuel: By now our criss-crossed letters on the Jewish Chronicle editorial have finally crissed and crossed, and I regard it as a good sign that we all did instinctively what we later advised each other to do! Since we last corresponded, the Jewish Chronicle published my letter, and I talked to Dr. Samuel Freeman of the Jewish Center Lecture Bureau, who informed me that he would look into the question and make the proper arrangements immediately. Yesterday I received a letter from Frankel of the Jewish Chronicle, and I enclose a xerox copy for your perusal. I have not yet decided what to answer him, but I certainly do not intend to let myself be boxed into a corner. Any suggestion how I can get out of this gracefully? Meanwhile, my very best wishes, and those of Mindella, to you and Amelie and all your children for a year of health and peace and ever-greater creativity. Please do give my special personal regards to Joel, of whom I am extremely fond. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Biographical Material

Correspondence

Exchange with R. Jakobovits about Jewish Chronicle Reporting on "Modern Orthodoxy's Identity Crisis" (1969)

Dear Immanuel: The Jewish Chronicle article and editorial came to my attention yesterday simultaneously with receipt of Prof. Domb’s letter. I am sending you a copy of my response enclosed. I assume that by now you have seen my original article in the May–June issue of Jewish Life. I am willing to abide by your recommendation, although my first impulse, as I wrote to Domb, is to ignore them. Although I am still in the country, I do come to the city quite often and so it is best to write to me at the Jewish Center. Mindy and I and all our family are thrilled that you will be with us, hopefully together with Amelle, at the Bar Mitzvah – at least for the Sunday affair. It will be a great honor and a marvelous sign of friendship. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Biographical Material