Introduction to The Commentator Volume on Rav Soloveitchik (2008)

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On Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1991)

During my visit today with Chief Rabbi Shapira, he told me the following story to which he was a personal witness. When Rabbi Soloveitchik came to visit Israel – the one and only time during his life – in the 1930s, it was the final year of the life of Rabbi Kook, the Elder. Rabbi Soloveitchik spoke in several places – at Mercaz Harav, at the Harry Fischel Institute, and at several other yeshivot. At every lecture that he gave, Rabbi Kook’s son, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, attended and listened attentively. When Rabbi Shapira asked the younger Rav Kook why he was doing so, he answered as follows: His father had received Rabbi Soloveitchik and they “talked in learning.” When Rabbi Soloveitchik left, the elder Rav Kook told his son that the experience of speaking with Rabbi Soloveitchik reminded him of his earliest years, when he was a student at the Yeshiva of Volozhin, during the time that Rabbi Soloveitchik’s grandfather, Rabbi Hayyim Soloveitchik, first began to give shiurim. I believe, the elder Rav Kook said, that the power of genius of the grandfather now resides with the grandson – and therefore, he said to his son, you should not miss a single shiur by Rabbi Soloveitchik.

The Rabbinate

Letter to R. David Hartman about R. Soloveitchik's Article in HaDoar (1960)

Dear David: I suggest you read the article by Rabbi Soleveltchik in the latest issue of "Hadoar." It will explain a number of things that were disturbing you (and me), especially the "conversion.״ Regards. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Miscellaneous

Letter to Bezalel Safran about His Notes on R. Soloveitchik's Lectures (1969)

Dear Bezalel: My very warmest thanks for letting me have the Rav's notes, which I xeroxed, and the originals of which I return to you herewith. I hope my request made to you last night, concerning his lectures for the very end of [omitted] will not prove to be an imposition upon you. Warmest personal regards. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Miscellaneous