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September 15, 1988

Openness as a Vehicle to Religious Growth (1988)

Torah Umadda Modern Orthodoxy Biographical Material
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Radical Moderation (1988)

A wave of extremism is sweeping the world. America and the American Jewish community – to say nothing of the Israeli community – have not remained unaffected by it. Indeed, the pressures of a resurgent extremism affect every facet of our lives – political, social, religious, educational. In this dangerous climate we must ourselves become radicals and reassert our Centrist position with all force and vigor. What Yeshiva University has taught – the joining of Torah learning and Western culture under the rubric of Torah u’Madda; openness to the environing culture; ahavat haTorah plus ahavat Yisrael; the appreciation of tolerance and the abhorrence of bigotry; a critical but loving commitment to the State of Israel – all this is a deliberate philosophy of life, not a compromise foisted upon us. In the language of halakhah, this approach is le-khatḥilah and not be-diʿavad. As a le-khatḥilah we must project ourselves as the standard bearer of moderation in Jewish life. We must stand not only for Torah u’Madda – a broader and more comprehensive vision of Torah as expressed in a particular curricular philosophy – but also for sanity and for moderation; for the conviction that Maimonides’ “middle way” applies not only to personal dispositions and character traits, but also to communal conduct and public policy; for an appreciation that life is filled with ambiguities and complexities and resists black-and-white simplism.We of the Centrist community are often chided that our policy of Centrism and our philosophy of moderation contain implicit hidden dangers. This is true; the study of worldly culture can sometimes lead questioning young people astray. An openness to non-observant Jewish neighbors, or to non-Jews, implies that they are as human as we are, and that can sometimes have a negative effect on our attempt to maintain our traditions. Agreed. But all life is dangerous, and unless one is determined to raise one’s child in a hermetically sealed Skinner box, safe from ge…
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Recollections and Reconsideration: Revisiting the Path of Rabbi Norman Lamm (2007)

To commemorate and reflect upon a legacy that included 27 years as YU's President, many authored works and countless lectures and sermons, The Commentator sat down with University Chancellor Norman Lamm. In the following are a series of questions and responses, Rabbi Lamm graciously took the time to reconsider various positions and turns taken over the course of his career. The Commentator: Still serving as Rosh HaYeshiva of RIETS but with a heavy background academia administration and as an administrator, how do you perceive your relationship with the other Roshei Kollel and Roshei Yeshiva? Norman Lamm: I have very good relations with them. Most of them were appointed by me. There are very few left who were appointed by my predecessor. I know them, I respect them, we don’t have to agree on everything but any two intelligent people will find things to disagree upon.TC: How exactly does the decision making process work in terms determining policy for the Yeshiva? What type of synthesis is there between you and the other Roshei Yeshiva in that area? NL: I established this policy a long time ago. If a student asks an individual Rosh Yeshiva about his own life or that of the students in his shiur, the Rosh Ha-Yeshiva is authorized to speak. But if they ask about policy for the entire Yeshiva, only I am authorized to speak, no one else. In terms of decision making it's a little more complicated now because there is also a President. Anything that deals with halakhic policy goes through me. Do I consult others? Do I listen to other peoples' opinions? Of course! Do I obey them? Not necessarily. When it comes to policy for the entire Yeshiva, however, it has to go not only through me, but also through President Joel. TC: Several of the RIETS Roshei Yeshiva have spoken disparagingly toward the philosophy of Torah u- Madda. When has a RIETS-MYP Rosh Yeshiva gone too far when they speak against the broader ideology of the university and the Yeshiva? NL: As far as I know, none…
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Outline

The Future of Modern Orthodoxy (2006)

ב"ב די"ב: מיום שחרב בהמ"ק, ניטלה נבואה מן הנביאים וניתנה לשוטים ולתינוקות. Introd: Bases of M-O: TuM; St-Isr; Role Womn; Inclusvnss; Modertn. Future: 1. TuM: depends on ~ cultural envirnmnt and mode relig reaction to trends contemp culture... Changes in TuM since I placed it on Top of Agenda: dumbed down by Touro to תורה ופרנסה; M = technical knowldg only; Progress So Far: Genrlly accepted, but RiIETS faclty some opposd; othrs ambvlnt; some w PhDs; will gradlly prevail in M-O
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