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Correspondence

October-November 1966

Exchange with R. Tokayer about "A Hedge of Roses" (1966)

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1. R. Tokayer to R. Lamm

1. R. Tokayer to R. Lamm (Oct. 31, 1966)

1. R. Tokayer to R. Lamm (Oct. 31, 1966)

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Exchange with R. Joseph Lookstein about "A Hedge of Roses" Distribution (1968)

My dear Norman: I am writing to you because I do not know to whom else to write. Forgive me, therefore, for troubling you. I would like to get ten copies of your book entitled The Hedge of Roses. I want to distribute them among couples that I know. Would you tell me how I can obtain that, or can you take care of it yourself? Naturally, I want to be billed for those books. Thank you for your attention and all good wishes always. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein
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Exchange with R. Parnes about "A Hedge of Roses" (1966)

Dear Normie, I appreciated your sending me a copy of “Hedge of Roses.” It would “party fun” for a Conservative Rabbi. I was impressed, first with the fact that you made this effort and secondly, by the literary and lucid presentation of delicate, not overly convincingly susceptible to rational and scholastic formulation. I do have some issues, but I don’t think them to be significant enough to impede second and third printings. Mazel tov on this endeavor, recently acquired doctorate. Sincerely, Teddy
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Letter from Baruch Litvin about "A Hedge of Roses" (1966)

Dear Rebbi, Shalom: We are home again in the great Midbor Mt. Clemens, we hope that you and your family had a Freilichen and Kosherln Pesach. I wish to thank you for publishing "A Hedge of Roses," it will take its place as a "classic" as long as there will be an English speaking Jewry, it is a real gem. Since I did not have the privilege of getting an academic education, I dare not review it, fearing of what our Sages instructed us: "Kol Hamosif goreah," so I am trying to hold to the line, but with your permission may I cite to you what the Zohar has to say on the above citation.On the verse in Song of Songs VI,11: I went down into the garden of nuts, for as the nut has a shell surrounding and protecting the kernel inside, so it is with everything sacred: the sacred principle occupies the interior, whilst the "other side" encircles the exterior.Observe that the exterior of the nut, the more it is enlarged the more worthless it becomes. As a mnemonic we have the sacrifices of the Feast of Tabernacles, the number which goes on diminishing with the increase of days. I hope that I have proven with the help of the Zohar Hakadosh the instruction of the Sages "Koi Hamosif goreah."If in my enthusiasm the Moshol is not 100 percent to the Nimshol, please forgive me.As to the "Meteor" that I sent out in Tradition: The Religious Implication... I leave it for another letter, if I don’t bore you too much. I have to have some self-expression and you as a Rebbi and friend I asn have permission to do it.Here, in your Tradition and Jewish Life, I certainly had a BerriJof wine and a good portion of Lamb, so we are wishing you to keep on to be as dynamic as you are. May the Almighty give you strength and see to it that no evil eye shall have any effect upon you, "Yaasher Kochacho."
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