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Correspondence

October-November 1966

Exchange about Religious Observance in the US Military (1966)

General Jewish Thought The Jewish Center

1. R. Lamm to Correspondent W

1. R. Lamm to Correspondent W (Oct. 31, 1966)

1. R. Lamm to Correspondent W (Oct. 31, 1966)

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Dear Rabbi Lamm, I would like to express my appreciation and heartfelt thanks for the articles that you have written in 'Tradition' during the last few years, which I came across about 4 months ago. I found in your articles an intense awareness of the spiritual problems that puzzle the modern Jew who, even if he is deeply committed, is still very conscious that there is much that has to be discussed and explained in the idiom of the age. The tenor of the articles in 'Tradition' in general and your articles in particular, is one of intellectual and spiritual candour. They display an attempt to deal articulately and in depth with the implications and perplexities of being a Jew in a rapidly changing world. In short, making Torah relevant to modern living at every level. I would be most grateful if you could elaborate a little on the theme you developed in your article 'The Unity Theme its implications. I will return to the relevant point later on.Perhaps, as background to my question, I should tell you a little about myself. I left high school five years ago at the age of 19 and, after much parental opposition, eagefly went to Gateshead Yeshiva. At that time I was very mixed up and thought that my new experience would be the panacea .I must admit that I did benefit from my stay in Yeshiva. I learnt some Talmud, made many friends and was exposed to an atmosphere of dedication and piety. But that is where it ended. I found instead of my doubts and questions diminishing, as I had been assured by many well-wishers, they became more numerous, searching and fundamental. I sometimes found that there was a sympathetic rapport between myself and the spiritual mentor, but when my questions became awkward he responded with the usual platitudes e.g. 'To the believers there are no questions, to the unbelievers are no answers,' and 'What can a man know with his finite intellect; unaided reason can not get anywhere.' I must emphasise that I do not say that this approach is complete…
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