Letter from Edith Kolko to I.J. Kagan about Writing "The Role of the Synagogue Today" (1969)

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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

Letter from I.J. Kagan about "The Arrogance of Modernism" (1969)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I thank you for your article entitled "The Arrogance of Modernism", for publication in the special enlarged Rosh Hashanah Issue of the Federation Chronicle. I shall let you have a few copies of the publication, as requested. With kind personal regards, Yours sincerely, I. J. Kagan, Executive Director

The Rabbinate

Letter to Rabbinic Colleagues about School Board Candidates Endorsements (1970)

Dear Colleague: I am writing to you on an urgent matter of concern to all of us who have afternoon Hebrew schools or children who attend such schools. The School Board elections in our district will take place on May 28th. I assume that you agree with me that we have two major interests in these elections: the civic and the Jewish. We want members who will work for the improvement of our local public schools, the most effective way of bettering the entire complexion of our mixed neighborhood. We also need people who will represent our Jewish concerns.By this latter term I refer to the following issues: seeing to it that no classes or special events are scheduled on Saturdays, Holidays, or Fridays after 4 P.M.; and that no double sessions be scheduled so that classes go on after 3:15 P.M., thus jeopardizing our Hebrew schools.To this end, a group of public-minded members of our community have nominated three candidates, all highly qualified both as public-minded citizens and as committed Jews. They are: Dr. Morris Epstein, Mrs. Ahuvah Genack, and Mr. Aaron Weitz.I urge you most strongly to discuss the matter from the pulpit or announce the names of the candidates and the issues. Many of our colleagues are forming telephone squads to promote their election.Furthermore, I most urgently request of you to mimeograph or xerox the enclosed letter and have it mailed to your entire congregation.I hope we will together be able to contribute to the betterment of our community in general and the protection of our Jewish interests in particular.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL/ekEnclosure

The Rabbinate