Exchange with Haham Gaon about Vacancy for UK Chief Rabbinate (1966)

1. Haham Gaon to R. Lamm (June 28, 1966)

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June 28, 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 Beth Din. 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

Next Letter

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.

Europe

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

My dear Lamm, I knew I would not have to appeal to you in vain, though the result is not entirely satisfactory. Simultaneously with writing to you, I also sent a separate appeal to Wurzburger. It produced a letter from him full of apologies, and that he had instructed them to send me both the journal and a check for the article (which I had not mentioned). This week a copy of the journal arrived by Air Mail without any accompanying letter of explanation, or reference to my request for offprints – or check! I still therefore do not know where I stand with regard to the offprints. If I was absolutely sure that I am not getting them, I would involve myself in the not inconsiderable expense of having it reproduced here, but naturally I do not want to involve myself in this expenditure if it can be avoided. Could you please ascertain if there is any chance of my getting them?

Europe

Letter from Haham Gaon with Passover Wishes and Updates on British Jewry (1963)

I am sorry that I did not write to you before, but I just cannot describe the amount of work I found when I returned to my office. It seems to me that it will take me another year before I can catch up with it all. Now, I want to take this opportunity of sending you and Mrs. Lamm and all your family our best wishes for a very happy Passover. Your kindness to me during my stay in New York is one of my brightest memories which I have in connection with the three months that I spent in your hospitable City. I would like to hear from you as to how things are developing, not only in general, but, also in your private domain. The Community here is still restive after the events which took place last year, and in my opinion, it will take some time before things will assume their natural course. Jews' College will have to find a new Principal, if we are to be able to give direction to the Anglo-Jewish Community.With all best wishes to you and Mrs. Lamm and all your family in which all my family joins.

Europe