Letter from R. Arthur Hertzberg about Serving on the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (1972)

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Letter to R. Avrutick about R. Lamm's Appointments to JCRC and NCRAC Committee on Interreligious Activities (1962)

Dear Abe: I just received a note from Samuel Brennglass informing me that upon your recommendation I had been appointed to the Joint Communal Relations Commission and to the Committee on Interreligious Activities of NCRAC. Thank you for your confidence, and I hope to do the best I can. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Interfaith

Letter to R. Joseph Baumol about Religious Involvement in Israel Council for Jewish-Arab Cooperation (1965)

Dear Rabbi Baumol: I am returning to you the enclosed information you sent me concerning “The Israel Council for Jewish-Arab Cooperation.” Needless to say, I am heartily in agreement with the aims of this group. Apparently it is meant strictly for Israelis, and rightly so. Nevertheless, all of us who are interested in the welfare of the State of Israel should enthusiastically approve the aspirations of the Council.I think it is important that the religious leadership of the State, especially the Rabbis and heads of the Yeshivot, involve itself in this kind of work. First, it is the kind of moral endeavor which should evoke the support of the spiritual leadership of the country. Second, there is another important reason: We all hope that before long peace will be established in the entire area. While peace will solve so very many problems, it will raise new ones. Among them will be the nature of the relationship between the Jewish and Moslem populations of the State of Israel.If the religious leadership of Israeli Jewry will have already taken strong stands towards enhancing the relationships between both segments of the country, it will be able to direct the nature of these relationships in the proper channels, i.e., that of creative political, economical and social intercourse, but with full consideration for the cultural and religious integrity of both the Jewish and Arab populations. Unless such goals are built into the philosophy of the Council, it is only too easy to imagine that the problem of intermarriage will become a very serious one.For moral and religious reasons, therefore, I believe the work of the Council should be supported and religious Jewry should become involved in it as soon as possible.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:rlencl.

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Letter to R. Fabian Schonfeld about Jewish-Christian Dialogue (1973)

Dear Fabian: As you had requested, I am returning to you the enclosed copy of Siegman’s report on the two consultations. I hope you do not mind that I made some penciled comments in the margins. With one or two exceptions they should prove legible and relevant. In short, while I had a number of criticisms on this report, and a number of inaccuracies, I do not find anything in it that would get me excited about violations of the standards we had set for such dialogues.All my best.Cordially,Norman.:cwEnc.

Interfaith