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Correspondence

Jan. 30, 1956

Letter from R. Isaac Klein about Article on the Fifth Amendment and Halacha (1956)

Jewish Law & Secular Law
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Letter from Dr. Dienstag about Article on the Fifth Amendment and Halacha (1955)

Dear Norman: Zei mir mochel 100,000 mohl for my long silence! I am burdened with work beyond description. I did take off time to read your very interesting essay on the "Fifth Amendment" and it was a relief to me know that the Rabbinate did not ruin you – Halvai Veiter! Please believe me when I tell you that I am profoundly impressed by your good judgement and erudition: Torah V'hochmah bemokom echod. I am glad that "Judaism" has accepted it for publication and I hope you will be able to supply me with a reprint thereof. Of course, it should be sent to another publication. Please insist on obtaining reprints from the Ketuba article; it is important that such material should get wide distribution which is otherwise lost in the periodical "runs". The same goes for the Judaism article. As to the She'lah concerning Birchat Kohanim which I would not want you to offer to Pardes, it is at present difficult for me to advise. I would like to check with some Israeli publications and let you know later about it.Meanwhile, I am closing with the satisfaction that I am to have more and more naches from you.Do let me hear from you.Yours, Jacob I Dienstag
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Letter from Dean Griswold about Article on the Fifth Amendment and Halacha (1956)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Thank you very much for your letter of March 7th. I am glad to know about your article on the principle of self-incrimination, and I greatly appreciate your kindness in sending me a copy. This is an area in which I have wanted light, and I am sure that you will provide it for me. Very truly yours, Erwin N. Griswold, Dean
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Letter from David Greenbaum about Article on the Fifth Amendment and Halacha (1956)

Dear Norman: I read your article ”The Fifth Amendment And Its Equivalent In The Halakhah”, appearing in the recent issue of ”Judaism”. I not only read the article but re-read it. I tell you in all sincerity, without embellishments and exaggeration, that the article is brilliant and shows that you are not only a remarkable student, but also possess a keen incisive mind. Your article was not only very interesting, but very timely. I need not tell you that the problems of the Fifth Amendment are now before the Courts and will be with us for a long time to come. Only yesterday, our Apellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, handed down a decision with respect to confessions. The decision referred to Section 395 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the State of New York which, insofar as it was pertinent to the case under review, reads as follows:”A confession of a defendant whether in the course of judicial proceedings or to a private person, can be given in evidence against him <hh> but is not sufficient to warrant his con-fession without additional proof that the crime charged has been committed.”You will observe the safeguard which the Legislature es-tablished to prevent the very things you mention in your article. The confessions referred to are voluntary con-fessions because forced confessions are thrown out and not considered by the Courts. Your article, too, disregards forced confessions. In all my years of reading law, I have neveT’ come upon a more lucid exposition of reasons fb r dis-regarding statements of self-incrimination.I congratulate you on your splendid efforts. I extend to you, Mindella and the baby my best wishes for a Hanny pesach.Sincerely,
Jewish Law & Secular Law