Letter to R. Newman Attached to Copy of Mixed Pews Lecture (1958)

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My dear Rabbi Newman: Upon the advice of Rabbi Leo Jung of the Jewish Center of New York, I am sending you enclosed a copy of my talk, "Separate Pews – A Mark of Jewish Dignity." I hope it can be of some assistance to you and our fellow-Jews in South Africa. If any references are made to it in any printed matter, or if by chance the article should be reprinted in whole or in part, please be kind enough to make available to me several copies of the same.

With best wishes once again,

Sincerely yours,

Rabbi Norman Lamm

Letter from R. Fabian Schonfeld to Rabbinic Alumni about Lecture on Mixed Pews (1959)

Dear Friend: On February 19, 1959, there will be an Executive Committee meeting of the Yeshiva University Rabbinic Alumni at 10 A.M. in Klein Hall. Following this meeting, we will have the pleasure of listening to our distinguished colleague, Rabbi Norman Lamm, Associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center, who will speak to us on "The Orthodox Position on Family Pews: Interpreting it to the Laity." If you remember, we had originally scheduled Rabbi Lamm’s paper to be read at our last annual Convention in Lakewood. Since, however, Rabbi Lamm was unable to attend, we had postponed his lecture until further notice. We are now very happy to be able to enjoy Rabbi Lamm’s address at our next executive meeting.In accordance with our resolution passed at the Convention, we are engaging on an enlarged schedule of cultural programs for this coming year. One of the resolutions called upon the Rabbinic Alumni to arrange various work-shops and seminars in the field of Practical Rabbinics. As a result, I am happy to inform you that arrangements have been made for us to visit the 999 Real Kosher Sausage Co., on 15 Rivington Street, New York City, on Monday, February 9, 1959. Incidentally the factory is owned by Rabbi David H. Hill, an alumnus of our Yeshiva.This visit will commence at 10 A.M, and we will have an opportunity to watch the preparation of meats in accordance with Halachic requirements. We assure you that you will find this most enlightening, and an experience which will be worth your while in the field of Kashruth. Please be good enough to fill out the enclosed card indicating your intention to be present.Very sincerely yours,RABBI FABIAN SCHONFELD, Chairman CULTURAL PROGRAM

Separate Pews

Letter from R. Miller to Rabbinic Alumni about Lecture on Mixed Pews (1959)

Dear Colleague: Now that our highly successful Mid-Winter Conference is over, our Executive Committee is ready to meet again and take up important matters pertaining to our annual program and calendar. Accordingly, our next executive committee meeting will take place on February 19, 1959, at 10 A. M. in Klein Hall, P.G. The agenda will include: 1. Chag Hasmicha 2. Report on Mid-Winter Conference 3. Report on Alumni Fund 4. Standing committees - report and activitations. Please be prompt so that we may conclude our business meeting with dispatch and start our cultural program by 11:30 A. M.The address will be given by Rabbi Norman Lamm, Associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center, New York, who will speak on ore of the most important problems facing us these days - "The Orthodox Position on Family Pews: Interpreting it to the Laity.”Sincerely yours,RABBI ISRAEL MILLERPresident Rabbinic Alumni

Separate Pews

Letter to R. Lamm about Mixed Pews

Dear Norman: I am sorry you were not at the convention of the Yeshiva Alumni. Had you been there, you would not have sent this article to me, and both you and I would have been happier. To begin with, I cannot accept the Halachah. The interpretation of the Talmudic source in Succah is, to say the least, loose. The jump, “as in the Temple so in the synagogue,” is even more so. The sanctity of the Temple is completely different from that of the synagogue, and so are the practical circumstances and considerations. The phrase “but whatever the source of the Halachah” indicates an appreciation, conscious or subconscious, of the difficulty and weakness of the exposition. What follows as support of the approach is not any more convincing. That we do not find segregation in the synagogue historically does not create Halachah. Soloveitchik’s letter is an adroitly phrased comment. He does not mention Halachah. He stresses the principle of anti-Christianization. Praying without a hat, to which he compares the problem, is not a basic Halachah. Were it not a serious problem, I would have been amused by his comparison with the organ. Note that he does not speak of playing the organ on the Sabbath or a holiday. He only speaks of “installing an organ.” All those impressive names that uphold the principle of segregation deserve and have my full respect. But we must remember that they also argue for such things as a bimah in the center of the synagogue, and other similar matters, on the basis of Halachah. The tragedy of Orthodoxy has been and is that we raise details to principles and forget to fight for real principles. We make causes célèbres which we are bound to lose, and fight for them in a manner to make loss sure and swift. This encourages the masses to line up in opposition. People do not like a sure loser. What Conservative Judaism thinks of the matter is, of course, irrelevant. The Conservative Movement is an administrative conglomerate without guiding principle. A moveme…

Separate Pews