Letter to R. Jung about Birth of a Daughter to the Lamm Family (1961)

R. Jung was in Iran when this letter was written.

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Exchange with R. Ort about Naming a Child after a Living Relative (1987)

לכבוד הרה״ג הר״ר נחום לאם שליט״א, נשיא וראש ישיבת ר׳ יצחק אלחנן: שמחתי מאוד בהופעת קובץ ״בית יצחק״ מאת תלמידי הישיבה הק׳, ראשיה ומשיבי שיעוריה. כל המעיין בה ימצאנה קנקן חדש יפה ומהודר, מלא ישן נושן מיין תורתנו הקדושה. נשתעשתי ביחד מהחבו״ד של מעכ״ת בשאלה המסובכת אשר דן בה. ובהיותי מעיין בדבריו עלו בליבי מחשבות דברים, פעם יבדוק יפעם לחזק, וכדרכן של לומדי תורה כמו שדרש חז״ל על הפסוק ברזל בברזל יחד וכו, מה הברזל הזה אחד מחדד את השני,

Halachik Method Practical Halacha Birth & Circumcision

Exchange with Louis Enfield about a Woman Who Refuses to Circumcise Her Son (1967)

Dear Sir: I listened to your interesting and inspiring talk in Detroit a short while ago, and in discussing the talk with a dear friend of mine, I was asked to enlist your aid in a matter which was really the subject of your talk. This friend has a daughter living in New York who is separated from her husband. She has a boy two years of age whom she has refused to have circumcised. To arguments about health and that ninety-two percent of all males are circumcised in New York she turns a deaf ear. To pleas concerning tradition, and oneness with her people, she says that Jews historically would have been far better off to have assimilated, and that she is more interested in universality of man rather than in separation. She refuses to "cut" her son as she labels circumcision. Even the threat of disinheritance does not concern her.Her father is broken-hearted. He himself was a rebel from a rigid orthodox upbringing, but for him there is a strong call for oneness with his people. Is there any approach you can suggest which might appeal to this girl?Yours truly,Louis W. EnfieldP.S. She has taught Sunday School at Temple Beth El, and has some knowledge of Jewish history and tradition.

Birth & Circumcision Combating Assimilation

Letter from Aaron Green about Naming a Child after a Living Relative (1987)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Many thanks for your recent article concerning the naming of a newborn after a living person. Your article mentioned a family story which was often repeated by my father a"h, and after his passing by my Uncle Sol a"h, his older brother. My grandfather HaRav Zvi Hirsch Green was dayyan and advisor to the late Rav Hacolel Rav Yaakov Yoasef zt"l. It was my grandfather's a"h tradition to name sons in memory of great Rabbis. Rabbi Jacob Joseph ע"ה had suffered a severe stroke and was gravely ill. My grandfather ע"ה was surprised when with the impending birth of his next child, the Rav Hacolel ע"ה suggested that it be named after him. It was my grandfather ע"ה who reminds of the Rav Hacolel ע"ה of the מנהג not to give a name after the living. The Rav Hacolel ע"ה official the prevailing practice but explained the exception of his case:"גוסס נחשב כמת!"Best wishes to you and your family for a year of good health and happiness.כתיבה וחתימה טובהSincerelyAaron

Practical Halacha Birth & Circumcision