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January-February 1976

Exchange with Aryeh Carmell about the Survival of Torah in Case of Alien Contact (1976)

Torah & Science

1. Aryeh Carmell to R. Lamm

1. Aryeh Carmell to R. Lamm (Jan. 11, 1976)

1. Aryeh Carmell to R. Lamm (Jan. 11, 1976)

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Exchange with Dr. Shneour about His Scholarship on Extraterrestrial Life (1966)

Dear Dr. Schneour: Mr. Raymond A. Haeckel of the Public Relations Department of the University of Utah was kind enough to send me a copy of a news release and article in which you were interviewed concerning the question of life on other planets. Mr. Haeckel sent me this in response to an article which recently appeared in the New York Times, reporting on an article I had published in Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought.As soon as reprints of my article become available, I will send one on to you. I hope you will do me the favor of reading it and letting me know your reactions.Permit me now to add a personal note. I may be mistaken, but I think that we once met many years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting, several years before his death, the distinguished Hebrew and Yiddish poet, Zalman Schneour, together with his wife, his son, and his daughter. In fact, he once did me the honor of reading and criticizing some Hebrew poetry which I wrote.I dimly recall hearing that this son was a biologist in Utah. That is why I believe that you are probably the man I met at that time. Perhaps it will help you to recall our association if I mention the name of my beloved aunt, Mrs. Sarah Wank. She and my late uncle Hyman were very friendly with the Schneour family.Finally, I would be very pleased to receive copies of any publications you may have on this theme that is of mutual interest to us.Sincerely yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM
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Correspondence

Exchange with Michael Kaufman about "Religious Implications of Extraterrestrial Life" (1966)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Just a fan letter to let you Know how much I appreciated your excellent, thought-provoking study, "The Religious Implications of Extraterrestrial Life" in the current issue of Tradition. The discussion was significant in exploring a Jewish approach to the eventual discovery of life on other worlds, and as such I nave no doubt that your study will be the source to which Jewish (and possibly Catholic) theologians will turn in 10, 50 or 100 years when, as is probable, contact will be made with extraterrestrial life.However, of at least equal or greater significance in my mind, was your treatment, in the course of your discussion, of a number of major concepts of Jewish theology from the Orthodox point of view which provided fresh, new insights into biblical exegesis and the story of the Creation, and the nature of G-d, and His relation to man. You have thus made available to the Orthodox Jewish intellectual, scientist and collegian a major contribution to their understanding of Judaism, and all three will find in your discussion a new source of strength for their faith as they delve into questions relating to G-d, man and the universe.May G-d grant you the strength and the means to continue in the footsteps of the Rambam and S.R. Hirsch.Sincerely,Michael KaufmanRabbi Norman Lamm 27 West 06th Street New York City
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Correspondence

Exchange with Saul Handler about the "Religious Implications of Extraterrestrial Life" (1970)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: Last night I picked up a book, “The Making of Kubrick’s 2001.” On page 55 I found an article about you concerning your beliefs on extra–terrestrial life. I agree with many of the points you put forth. However, one paragraph does not strike me as well thought out. I quote: “One of our great difficulties is, who is to say that the physician, or the scientist, or anyone who has a Ph.D. and is in control of certain processes, has the right to determine the future, of anything’s or anyone’s life and death. Man is monkeying around with his environment. He is monkeying around with himself as well. He is changing himself.” True; man is monkeying around with himself and his environment, causing himself to be strangled by his own mass produced poisons spewing themselves out day and night into our life–supporting atmosphere. But man does not have the right of decision of life or death, over any living entity. However, he should have the right to “monkey” around with himself. This right is the start of all the religions in the world. If Abraham did not have the right to change his religion and monkey with one God, and only G.d, where would the Jewish people be today? If Moses did not fear G.d, and had less fear of the Pharaoh, he would never have decided to allow someone else to take his place as the leader of the Jews from slavery. Today, man has to change his environment, for his environment is out to destroy him. He lives surrounded by madness. Surrounded by a spiritually poor decadent population, striving only, for the god money. He lives surrounded by hate and fear. If he is not to change this, man as a race has a poor chance of survival. Many criticize today’s youth, saying they are too free, and immoral. This may be true in a relative way. For, these same parents were too strongly controlled by their parents. They were taught unnatural hates and prejudices, they were taught that the goal of one’s self was to make it in a large, one–family house and hav…
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