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Correspondence

Apr. 4, 1963

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

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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.Your coming here has already been discussed and it is part of a larger plan. Again, I hope to have some more definite news when I come to New York.You do not need, in any way, to disturb yourself about the fact that you spoke to Rabbi Itamar, I am never afraid of the truth and if I kept the whole thing confidential, it was only to safeguard you more than to safeguard the College. As, as far as Jews' College is concerned, it would only be to their credit if you were to come here, even for a short time, to lecture to the students.Now I want to write concerning the Eruv in Manhattan. This week I received a letter from the President, of Shearith Israel, in which he informed me that they have now withdrawn the offer to pay $500 as they originally thought they would do. The reason for this was the letter which was sent to the Congregation. Even our religious people like Robert Salomon and Charlie Bendheim, were apparently very upset b…
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Correspondence

Exchange with Haham Gaon about Vacancy for UK Chief Rabbinate (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 BethODin. 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
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Correspondence

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

My dear Lamm, I knew that I would not have to appeal to you in vain, though the result is not entirely satisfactory. Simultaneously with writing to you I sent a last desperate appeal to Wurzburger. I received 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?By a peculiar coincidence, on the same day as I receive your letter wishing me "good luck" with regard to England, there appeared No. 898 of *Panim el Panim* (22/10/65), and in the "gossip column", "Al Tufta Im" appeared an item to the effect that the leaders of the United Synagogue have decided to offer you the position. It ties up with a statement in *Haboker* from their London correspondent that they will definitely turn to the U.S.A. I know that this can only be kite flying since the first meeting, at which only preliminary steps will be taken, takes place only tomorrowNevertheless I want to express my considered opinion to you that you would be an ideal choice, and that should the approach be made to you, to give it your favourable consideration. I want to be quite frank with you, on the basis of the very real and valued friendship and esteem which exists between us. I regard my chances as minimal. Wolfson has been here for a fortnight and returns to London today and has made no effort whatsoever to contact me, despite the fact that he was pressed to by my friends before he left England. Wh…
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