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Sep. 22, 1971

Letter from Samuel Lamm Responding to R. Lamm's Article on Leisure (1971)

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Letter to Shimshon Heller Criticizing Essay by R. Kalman Kahana (1965)

Dear Mr. Heller: I read the manuscript you sent me very, very carefully. Before I begin to give you my reactions, I hope you will emphasize to Rabbi that my criticisms in no way detract from my fervent admiration for him and my enthusiasm for the same volume as it appeared in Hebrew. I am sorry to say that the manuscript I have before me is totally — unquestionably unfit for publication. The English is not only ungrammatical, cast in a foreign idiom, and beset by hundreds of different errors, but the expression is banal and most unappealing. As I mentioned to you when we talked last, there are certain things that may be said, and that should be said in a Hebrew publication for an Israeli audience that should never be reproduced in English for an American reader. This implies, as well, a slight revision of some halakhic material. Thus, for instance, a detailed analysis of when a husband may or may not eat from the leftovers of his wife's dish is pretty much meaningless to a young American couple. In general, I would also counsel against the translation of tumah as "uncleanliness" or "unclean." There are other things that Rabbi H. included, and for which he no doubt has good Jewish sources, which will only be rejected offhand by any modern reader, such as his remarks in Chapter XVIII, No. 3. I think one should be extremely careful about making scientific pronouncements without being doubly sure of their validity — even if, as in this case, they have the authority of Maimonides behind them.I need not continue in this vein, although I can go on and on. Let me plead with you not to allow the good reputation of Rabbi to be sullied by having his name associated with a manuscript as is. I have learned through bitter experience that Rabbi Saadia Gaon was right when he maintained that one of the eight principal reasons for skepticism and the rejection of Judaism is the inadequate presentation of our point of view.I do think that the strictly halakhic sections can, with a lit…
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Letter to Samuel Lamm about Logistics for Joshua Lamm's Bar Mitzvah Siyyum (1969)

Dear Pop: Enclosed is a copy of the booklet I've prepared for Josh's Bar Mitzvah I.Y.H. I hope you and Mom will like it. We want to invite you to participate in the Sunday proceedings by reciting the Kaddish after the Hadran. You will be seated either on my side (near the Aron) or the side that Jung sits on – probably the former, or whichever you prefer, if you have a preference. Now, after Josh makes the Siyyum, he will read the Hadran and then either he or I will ask everyone to rise. Then you will step to the Shulchan (facing the Aron) to read the special Kaddish on page 16 of the enclosed.Just in case you want to read it according to Dikduk (nusach Lithuania), I've marked the syllables to be accented. If you prefer to read it "our" way, that is perfectly OK. As for me, whatever you are more comfortable with is just fine.One more thing — we're trying to keep the whole thing as a surprise for our guests, so please try not to show it to anyone else (other than Mom, of course) before the event.Also — please ask everyone to remember to stay for the Services which begin at 4 pm.Be'chavod Rav,NORMAN
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Letter from R. Maurice Lamm Praising R. Lamm (2003)

I'm sorry to say this, but... you are really the Gadol Ha’bayis – you’re helping so many in the family, as always, but these days especially my kids and grandchildren, that they are all amazed when they come together and you are invariably the subject and the model they teach their kids when they talk about the family. It is always “the Lamms” who are the ideals, “the quintessential family.” How Mom and Pop would swoon if they just heard the echoes in Olam Ha’ba. I envy you – and, yes, I love you. Gut Shabbos, Moish
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