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Correspondence

February-April 1967

Exchange with Judge Silver about the Teaching of Canon Law at Hebrew University (1967)

The University

1. Judge Silver to Nathan Saperstein

1. Judge Silver to Nathan Saperstein (Feb. 6, 1967)

1. Judge Silver to Nathan Saperstein (Feb. 6, 1967)

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Exchange with Lawrence Kobrin about Project on Talmud and Contemporary Legal Issues (1976)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: This letter is addressed to you in your role as consulting editor for Ktav on the law and ethics series. It is intended to furnish some specific examples of a line of inquiry in public discussion which we have occasionally discussed in general terms, but without specific illustration. While I am not exactly certain as to the appropriate method for following up these ideas, I wanted to share them with you. The pedagogy of Talmud is, for a variety of reasons, frequently "self-centered", in the sense that it is presented as an all inclusive and self-contained system, rather than as a jurisprudential effort to deal with ongoing business, human relations, or similar problems. The refinements of textural analysis and logical deduction frequently exclude any consideration of the actual application of legal rules to practical business for fact situations. The text of atonement and the practice of the authors of Responsa literature demonstrate that this was not the original intention of the masters of halacha. Presumably, it is only contemporary divorcement of halachic literature from practical application that leads to this result.As a result, the teaching of Talmud may frequently be unnecessarily difficult. For, if the student must be convinced that some particular discussion is important for its own sake, it might be easier to engender interest in thought where a discussion was related to a contemporaneous problem, still posed in courts and legal literature.Some recently reported decisions of the New York Court of Appeals (the highest court in this state), all of them coincidentally by a narrowly divided court, relate or may be considered analogous to matters discussed extensively in the Talmud. The fact that these problems are still current serve to demonstrate that the jurisprudential problems posed in the Talmud are still very much with us and that the solutions found there may be helpful in dealing with contemporary life, however commercial and compl…
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Exchange with R. Bergman about Archbishop Visit to Hebrew University (1967)

Dear Dr. Bergman: Earlier this week I called you over the telephone in order to inform myself of the particulars concerning your charge against the Hebrew University and their invitation to Archbishop Cody of Chicago. I met with the officials of the Hebrew University that same day, this past Monday, and I think it important to relate to you impressions of that meeting and my opinions, whatever they are worth, on the matter. First, I think it is exceedingly important to refrain from any exaggerations or extravagances, lest we vitiate the true merit of our argument. Therefore, I would not confuse the proposed “Archbishop Cody Chair in Canon Law” with the teaching about Christianity in general and, in fact, with instruction in Canon Law itself at the Hebrew University. I cannot see any objection to the teaching of Christianity at a university. I am a shomer mitzvot and the chairman of the comparative religion department is a warm, observant Jew who is a shomer mitzvot. Furthermore, I do not believe that the proposal is at all one of giving aid and comfort to Christian missions in Israel. Nevertheless, I was upset by the report of the establishment of this chair, and that is why I called you and attended the meeting with the people from the University. The information that was given to me, and which I believe to be correct, is that the entire matter was excited by a local public relations man who had failed to clear the plan with the proper authorities of the Archbishop – who is a most friendly man and had been visited – and the association mentioned, it was obviously impossible to withdraw and amounted to a slap in the face to him and the entire Catholic community of Chicago. Moreover, despite the local radio and television announcements, there was no mention in print, or impression given to the Archbishop, that there was to be a chair at the University for Canon Law. Mr. Charwik of Jerusalem specifically told the audience in Chicago that what was planned was a visit…
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Exchange with R. Juda Frankel about the Kiryat Sanz Yeshiva and Hospital in Israel (1964)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: At the suggestion of Rabbi Soloveitchik, I am writing you to ask for an appointment at which I may tell you about our work. By now, Rabbi Soloveitchik may have mentioned this to you. What I want to tell you about is the work now in progress in Kiryat Sanz in our Holy Land, under charge of Grand Rabbi Shlita, the Klausenberger Rabbi who is also the grandson of the world renowned Sanzer Rabbi. Already functioning is a Yeshiva with dormitories providing a Torah education and sustenance for students from many parts of the world. There is a home for the aged where old folks may spend their declining years in an atmosphere of peace and serenity. A Kinderheim provides a home and Jewish upbringing for homeless waifs rescued from non-Jewish missions. The greatest project of all, now in process of being built, is the hospital which, when completed, will provide medical care for a population of over 300,000 people who are now without such facilities. I would greatly appreciate it if you will let me hear from you soon, letting me know at what time it will be convenient for me to see you. Sincerely, Rabbi Juda Frankel, Executive Director
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