My Dear Norman,

I have shared your letter with all my children and grandchildren so that they should know the authentic meaning of Torah Umada in its most noble sense. What you write is expressive of your profound scholarship as a life-long talmid muvhak of the Rav – no frills, no superfluities, no flourishes – simply an expression of your deep religious sincerity, unyielding intellectual honesty, unshakeable moral certitude, and unflinching integrity.

Jingoistic journalists have no patience for such matters. They pounce on this and that, using words that quickly fade into oblivion. Yours have an eternal ring to them. Wittingly or not you have written a testimony about a lifelong journey that is so spiritually challenging and so intellectually stimulating that it now belongs to the ages.

You have fulfilled your promise to the Rav, and in so doing have ennobled the lives of untold thousands, mine among them.

Your everlasting friend,

Yehuda (Gubby).