Exchange with Nahum Gordon about "The Face of God" (1988)

/ / Exchange with Nahum Gordon about "The Face of God" (1988)

Correspondence

January 1988

Exchange with Nahum Gordon about "The Face of God" (1988)

Shemot Hidden Face of God Biographical Material

Despite the press of his daily responsibilities, Rabbi Lamm made a point of responding to letters from members of the community at large.

Background Information

1. Nahum Gordon to R. Lamm

1. Nahum Gordon to R. Lamm (Jan. 7, 1988)

1. Nahum Gordon to R. Lamm (Jan. 7, 1988)

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Exchange with Shaul Bald about "The Face of God" (1987)

I am writing you regarding your worthy address on the Holocaust. I’m enclosing a maamar by the Or Hachaim Hakadosh which I believe has relevance to the topic of שואה. He reveals that certain rishut done by reshaim can cause a holocaust. Though not mentioning the aveira or aveirot that cause this catastrophe, he does state that people should curb their taava serucha. For if they do not do so, they may cause the death of countless נפשות, small and big, for which baal aveira is responsible.

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Exchange with Tamar Warburg about "The Face of God" and Theodicy (2002)

Dear Zeida, I am writing to you in a frenzy of excitement which has resulted from your lecture entitled “The Force of God’s Judgment in the Holocaust.” The lecture has definitely triggered off serious questions, the questions that I, just like everyone else, have regarding frankfurt vrs tzur, that since possible in Jewish history which must fall under the category of literal punishment for sins the Jews have involved in since time back. Reading this lecture was the most thrilling intellectual experience I have been involved in since I came back to Israel. I probably haven’t yet marked the response in the correct probable books, I am putting it down under the title “we ask the questions” “he just don’t understand Hashem.” Here my controversy is sparked within me. All the questions asked however I would like an answer for the greatest answer is, could this be answered if we are the Jewish people so involved in questioning all the time and not getting any answer to it and not getting settled within ourselves, if this still is the situation? We might continue to rebel – still never being able to get back to your point that the answer will not come expected. The involvement in questions is always a beautiful experience but involvement in questions that never get answered is depressing. To my point – all that we can accomplish nothing. It seems as though this stage of Jewish history has no meaning and nothing that stems from it will give us any objective base upon which to stand. You are not answered. You only see that you have a special job as a Jew – we see that. What then can be accomplished if you are not answered? We can’t believe that in a perpetual involvement in questions and never arriving at any answer is good for us. We must have some kind of answer or at least something to believe in. We can’t be satisfied that Hashem has special ways. We know that! But what does it mean for us to know this and for you to tell us this, which is impossible to find some signif…

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Letter from Dr. Eckstein about "The Face of God" (1994)

Dear Norman, שליט"א, I am sorry that my comments caused you distress and sleeplessness, but then something very good came of it – your excellent interpretation of your grandfather’s ז"ל's final remark. I believe that you really penetrated to his meaning. What moved me about the remark was his humanism – his religious humanism. I shared his humanistic concern about punishment (in institutional sense) after death, but mine led to an irreligious conclusion whereas his never did. I never doubted his great piety – how could anyone who knew him! – but I feared that some on the right (perhaps just a hint) might besmirch him. Hence I wondered whether you would want it published; but with your clarification, perhaps it should be published. I am indeed very happy that with your clarification. I trust that you never questioned my esteem for his piety and wisdom – which was shared by my father and is still shared by my mother.

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