Letter to R. Kraiser about Respecting Rabbinic Autonomy and Article about Leaving Hospitals on Shabbat (1987)

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Letter from R. Jakobovits about His Concerns Concerning Religion and Politics in Israel (1974)

Dear Norman, I am turning to you, amongst a select number of leading personalities in Israel, to seek your advice, and possibly your assistance, in an effort to make some contribution towards alleviating the grave crisis afflicting our people in the wake of the Yom Kippur War. Even greater than the threat to Israel’s security from the might and machinations of our enemies from without is the mortal danger from within of disunity and disintegration, sapping Israel’s inner strength, resolve and morale. To Jews with a historical awareness, the present fragmentation and bitter strife in Government, inside the political parties and even in the Rabbinate cannot but be ominously reminiscent of the "Sinat hinam" which, as our Sages invariably maintained, caused the destruction of Jerusalem 1900 years ago.I have urged, both publicly and in private discussions - at any rate during the present emergency when religious faith and national unity are such indispensable assets to Jewish survival - that we shift the emphasis in our spiritual confrontations and challenges from legislation to education. More specifically, I suggest that 1) secularists be persuaded to admit some regular religious education and religious experience in all schools in Israel and 2) a moratorium be called on all new legislation of religious significance, such as conversions, civil marriage, public Shabbat observance and autopsies.At the root of our perilous predicament, to my mind, is a profound spiritual crisis revealed and accentuated by the Yom Kippur War. Israeli society is being acutely polarised and, worse still, demoralised by ever more bitter divisions on the very ideals which have sustained the spirit of our nation and united us in all our past tribulations.We are now paying a fearful price for the lack of a spiritual faith amongst so many of Israel's children. The rigid demarcation in the State system between religious schools for only a minority and non-religious schools for the rest, has raise…

Religion & State

Letter to R. Jung about Proposed Legislation to Regulate Shechita (1962)

To: Rabbi Jung: I just talked to Rabbi Klavan and he says that if “Mrs. Schupp wishes, she may call Rabbi Klayan and he will be glad to discuss the problem with her and explain our position." NL

The Rabbinate

Letter about Halacha Observance and Family Reconciliation (1966)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I hope you received my letter with a copy of your article. At this time I would like to wish you a G’mar Chasima Tova. I understand that my sister-in-law, [redacted], will meet the Rabbi. I would like you to consider some important details at this meeting: 1) She should not have any misunderstanding that there is a family reconciliation or a partial one, because I helped to bring about this meeting with the Rabbi, it was only done outside of the family relationship, as an outsider.2) The family is not ready to reconcile unless she will live according to the 'eikrim', – Sabbath, kashruth and moral. Because this is the price that the family should forget what she did in the past few years. We feel that she should rather look up to us in these matters.3) I would like to ask the Rabbi a personal favor to meet with her at least one or two more times, after this first meeting.No one in the family has any business with her, but through us this may change, and she may get together with rest of the family on a normal basis.We would appreciate you meeting with her more than the initial meeting, as we have tried everything with her and there is nothing else that we can do.With best wishes for the New Year.Sincerely yours,[redacted]

The Rabbinate