Letter of Condolence to R. Zev Upon His Father's Passing (1973)

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Letter of Condolence to R. Goldfarb Upon Passing of His Father (1967)

Dear Rabbi Goldfarb: Many thanks to you for your most gracious note. I admired and cherished your late father, of blessed memory, and am pleased that you and your sister and all the family were able to detect this genuine feeling in my remarks. I hope and pray that I shall be able to be of service to the family on many happy occasions in the future. Please convey my warmest good wishes to all members of the family, and my thanks both for the sentiments and enclosure. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Death & Mourning

Letter to Nachum Twersky Upon the Passing of His Father (1969)

Dear Nachum: My wife and I, and Chaye, were shocked by the terrible news of the sudden passing away of your beloved father. I did not have the privilege of knowing him, but I had heard much about him, and from this indirect acquaintance I can appreciate how great and how grievous is your loss. I am sorry that I will not be able to see you personally during this week because you are out of town and my schedule simply does not allow me to leave for an extended period of time. Words, of course, are completely inadequate at a time of this sort. Silence, as the friends of Job so well understood, is the only appropriate response before we begin talking about what happened. Please, Nachum, accept for yourself and the rest of your family my few words and a great deal of silence as our expression of sympathy for all of you. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Death & Mourning

Letter of Condolences to Dr. Gross (1973)

Dear Moishe: It is so difficult to say anything that is meaningful, that I feel it is almost best to say nothing at all. But פטור בלא כלום אי אפשר, hence this note. Mindy and I were dismayed by the dreadful news that Lennie brought to us. We are still in a state of shock. All I can say is that I feel for you very very deeply. All those who know you are broken hearted with you. Because my own words must of necessity be so faulty and inadequate, let me wish you consolation (though I am a bit late for official nechama) in our traditional way – המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים. May the New Year bring you a full measure of nechama and may you begin to emerge from the darkness of the past year into new light and away out of your difficulties. With all my friendship and affection, Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Death & Mourning