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Correspondence

October-November 1965

Exchange with R. Rabinowitz about Offer to Become UK Chief Rabbi (1965)

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1. R. Rabinowitz to R. Lamm

1. R. Rabinowitz to R. Lamm (Oct. 24, 1965)

1. R. Rabinowitz to R. Lamm (Oct. 24, 1965)

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Exchange with Dr. Fox about Offer to Become Principal of Jews College (1962)

Dear Marvin: Not having corresponded with you in a long time, I should probably begin with the usual social amenities. Please, therefore, consider them exchanged, executed, and done with. The reason for my writing is to make a confidential inquiry of you. You know the complicated situation that prevails in England with regard to the Principalship of Jews College. The situation is quite critical, and the right man in that position can, by a kind of chain reaction, have a profound effect on the future course of Anglo-Jewry. I am anxious to make a recommendation to Chief Rabbi Brodie who, I know, will give my proposal very serious consideration. The search seems to center on you. You have, to my mind, all the necessary qualifications for the position, and I think it will give you the kind of forum which will be proper for your own talents, ambitions, and principles. I need not, and perhaps cannot, elaborate to any greater extent at this time. I do think that it is a tremendous opportunity in a situation which can have historic consequences. I would want your agreement in writing that you would be willing to consider an invitation. This, of course, does not bind you to any eventual agreement. If I can receive your consent to this point by return mail, I will feel free in contacting Rabbi Brodie immediately.Of course, all these negotiations will be held in strictest confidence by me and by the people in England, as I know it will be by you.All best regards to June and the children.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM
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Exchange with Haham Gaon about Offer to Teach at Jews College and the Upper West Side Eruv (1966)

My dear Rabbi Lamm, I was very glad to receive your letter of March 20th. I wanted to give you some news before I wrote to you and for that reason I delayed a little with my reply. I really do not know who told Rabbi Itamar of the plans in Jews’ College. I am however glad that you were quite frank with him. I do not know what plans his son-in-law had which would be affected by your coming. I would have thought that any new spirit which could be introduced into the College would be of benefit to the College and in consequence, to his son-in-law. In strict confidence, the feeling among the leaders of the College is growing that in any case, Dr. Ross (Rabbi Itamar’s son-in-law) does not seem to be very keen to stay in the College. I will tell you all about it when I see you in New York. In the meantime, our plans for the College are slowly taking shape. The whole movement is slow, but I hope it will succeed. The main problem is finance but it now seems that the Wolfson's may be able to do something concrete if a blue-print is presented to them.Your coming here has already been discussed and it is part of a larger plan. Again, I hope to have some more definite news when I come to New York.You do not need, in any way, to disturb yourself about the fact that you spoke to Rabbi Itamar, I am never afraid of the truth and if I kept the whole thing confidential, it was only to safeguard you more than to safeguard the College. As, as far as Jews' College is concerned, it would only be to their credit if you were to come here, even for a short time, to lecture to the students.Now I want to write concerning the Eruv in Manhattan. This week I received a letter from the President, of Shearith Israel, in which he informed me that they have now withdrawn the offer to pay $500 as they originally thought they would do. The reason for this was the letter which was sent to the Congregation. Even our religious people like Robert Salomon and Charlie Bendheim, were apparently very upset b…
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Exchange with Haham Gaon about Vacancy for UK Chief Rabbinate (1966)

My dear Norman, Thank you very much for your letter of June 7. Unfortunately it reached me only on the afternoon of June 15 as you will see from the copy of the letter which I have written to our mutual friend Rabbi Jakobovits. I don’t think I have anything else to add about the Erub to what I have already written to Rabbi Jakobovits. By now I am sure you must have heard all about the Chief Rabbinate. I understand that Sir Isaac said that you refused to accept it but the rumours current here are that you refused to do so because you don't want to work with the present BethODin. That has definitely raised your stock in the eyes of many here. I had a long talk with Sir Isaac on which I will report to you when I see you. I wonder what the story is that you promised to the "Jewish Chronicle" when a Chief Rabbi is elected; I can only guess.I now want to take this opportunity to thank you and your wife very much for your very kind hospitality to me and, above all, for your friendship. I do wish you could be here for the wedding of my daughter, Raquel.Write to me about the news in New York. Are you going to have your thesis published? Both my wife and I send you all our best wishes,Yours very sincerely,Solomon
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