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Correspondence

August-September 1995

Exchange with Edmond Karimzadeh about Chabad and the Sefirot (1995)

Kabbala Chasidim & Mitnagdim

1. Edmond Karimzadeh to R. Lamm

1. Edmond Karimzadeh to R. Lamm (Aug. 28, 1995)

1. Edmond Karimzadeh to R. Lamm (Aug. 28, 1995)

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Dear Norman: Thank you so much for sending me your book. I have already started to read it, but my mother grabbed it away from me. She is here recovering from successful heart surgery, and when I brought her the book to look at, she insisted on keeping it. It is a remarkable accomplishment. I had absolutely no idea of the depth and variety of Hassidic writing on so many subjects. Today we tend to think of Hassidim as fundamentalist, but your selection demonstrates how ahistorical and prejudiced such a view is.It is remarkable that someone like you, who represents pluralism within the Jewish community, has done a much better job in presenting the Hassidic perspective than any of the current rebbis.I hope your book, as well as its author, has a long life. It should be required reading for anyone who wishes to see pluralism extend in all directions. Congratulations on yet another brilliant contribution to Judaism and to the intellectual life of our world.Cordially,Alan M. Dershowitz AMD\
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Exchange with Eli Mallon about "Torah Lishmah" and the Hasidic View of Divine Immanence (1997)

Dear Dr. Lamm, I'm reading your excellent study of R. Haim of Volozhin. Of course, it's no mystery why you would do this, given his place in the (you should pardon the expression) evolution of Modern Orthodoxy. You reiterated the Orthodox/Misnagid position re: Divine Immanence – i.e. if G-d is in everything, everywhere, in the sense taught by Hasidut, it may cause them to make no halachic distinction between clean and unclean, and therefore the Divine Name could be mentioned in inappropriate places.However, I don't think it's the necessary conclusion. Water is water and wood is wood; no Hasid would try to set water on fire for warmth in winter. In Kabbalah, only in Atzilut do distinctions cease; in all else – Yetzirah, Briah, Asiyah, multiplicity must still be considered. These "worlds" represent different levels of perception, or "consciousness," if you will. Only on the level of ״Atzilut" is the truth of ״Achdut" (i.e. Ehn Od: there's nothing other than G-d) also a truth of experience. On the physical level: always multiplicity. The highest development of life (in this world) would actually encompass all four. There can be distinctions, even in a world filled with G-d.The subsequent history of Hasidut demonstrates that, whatever variations in observance they made based on their belief-system, their fundamental allegiance to halachah has been unshakeable.For the record, I'm neither Orthodox nor Hasidic. But I can appreciate the importance of these issues, and derive deep satisfrom your presentation of them.Sincerely,Eli Mallon
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Exchange with Michael Tabor about Research Suggestions on Chabad (1974)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Greetings! Many thanks for your good wishes on the birth of שושנה, who is thriving. School starts again in a few weeks and before the pressure begins again I have written out some suggestions re the writings of the נשיאי חב"ד which I hope will be of some use in your search for suitable material. As you can see (and please note for future correspondence...!?) we have moved into a house on the campus and slowly getting organized. We didn't go away this summer but remained in the splendid isolation of interterm Carmel – I've enjoyed the peace and opportunity to read and practice altho' Naomi misses town life quite a bit – but as you said some months ago marriage is constant interaction and adaptation on both sides...Well I bid you and your charming wife & family (what are your kids doing now – I especially remember your daughter (youngest!?) who did a little dance for me – are your other children studying?]The seasonal greetings: כתיבה וחתימה טובהמיכאל ת'General Books & Ideas [mostly published by Kehor – or obtainable from your other Luby inclined friends & acquaintancesספר המפתחות – useful cross red & index of of ideas within literatureספר העררים – Encyclopedia – out a few years ago (1971?) I think only first vol is up to א!אור החסידות – brief summary/outline of basic concepts – some beautiful summaries of חב"ד by the נשיאי חב"ד.* על ספר החבדית – collection of short essays on major חב"ד books.The Tzemach Tzedek & Haskalah movement – interesting reading on background of fierce kultur komph & intrigues of Haskalah ideologists/missionaries'.On Teachings of Chassidus, On Learning Chassidus, קינטרס לימוד החסידות : transl by Z. Posner of two booklets by previous Rebbe.Deals with questions of how its possible to 'understand' theological concepts of chassidut. I found the 2nd part very interesting bringing parallels from other intellectual disciplines – different of comprehension:[P.27]הפשטה = עליית המשיג אל המושגהלבשה = המשכת וירידת …
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