Exchange with R. Maurice Lamm about Assisting Him with Book (1968)

1. R. Maurice Lamm to R. Lamm (Apr. 23, 1968)

1. R. Maurice Lamm to R. Lamm (April 23, 1968)

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Exchange with R. Tuchman about Inquiring re: Possible Lamm Family Relations (1963)

Dear Norman: A gentleman by the name of Mr. Joseph Spindel, of San Francisco, has asked me to obtain some information from you. He comes from Galicia and had an uncle by the name of Note Lamm. He saw your name in Tradition and in the newspapers and wonders whether or not there is some remote or perhaps direct relationship between you and his family. He would appreciate it if you could send him your father’s name, the community he is from in Europe, as well as other pertinent information, for he feels there may be some kinship between your family and his. Now that we are settled here in San Francisco, we do hope that the distance which separates us will be one of miles and will be bridged either through correspondence, or, from time to time, at Conferences or Conventions. I do wish you will continue to keep my name on your mailing list so that I may receive your very fine bulletin, as well as your wonderful writings, as they are printed by the Congregation. Ruth joins me in sending her fondest regards. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Louis M. Tuchman

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Exchange with William Frankel about R. Lamm's Views on Divine Revelation (1969)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, As you may by now have seen, I published your letter in our last week's issue. You make the point that because you accept "Torah min ha-shamayim" and Dr. Jacobs does not, you are Orthodox and he is not. That would be perfectly fine and explicit if we knew what you meant by "Torah min ha-shamayim" since this was the basis of the "local polemics" to which your letter refers. Dr. Jacobs has made his position quite clear but neither your letter nor any other of your writings that I have seen are equally explicit on this subject. I am sure that you don’t wish intentionally to cloud the issues by deliberately vague formulations – indeed meaningless formulations. Would you therefore care to write an article for me, of not more than 1,200 words, on how you define "Torah min ha-shamayim" from the point of view of "modern Orthodoxy" as distinct from the non-modern acceptance of verbal inspiration? I am sure that such an article from you would have more than local interest and would be an important contribution to what I consider to be at the root of what you have described as "Modern Orthodoxy’s identity crisis". With kind regards, yours sincerely, William Frankel.

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Letter to R. Maurice Lamm about Status of Press Release for His Book (1969)

Dear Moishe: What is this business with Twersky? He tells me that he met you in Lakewood and that you said it is now up to me to provide a proper press release on your book. To the best of my recollection, you were supposed to choose a section which you consider pertinent and then try to write it up, with me re-writing, and then submitting to Twersky. Don't pass the buck. It stops with you. Yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Biographical Material