Letter to Aviva Cantor about Jewish Chronicle Reporting on "Modern Orthodoxy's Identity Crisis" (1969)

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Exchange with Dr. Domb about Jewish Chronicle Reporting on "Modern Orthodoxy's Identity Crisis" (1969)

The “Jewish Chronicle” have reverted to their old bad habits. I am sure the enclosed conclusions have no basis & are inconsistent even with their own report of your talk. Presumably you will decide as to whether it is worth following up. שלום וברכה, Cyril Domb

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Exchange with R. Jakobovits about Jewish Chronicle Reporting on "Modern Orthodoxy's Identity Crisis" (1969)

Dear Immanuel: The Jewish Chronicle article and editorial came to my attention yesterday simultaneously with receipt of Prof. Domb’s letter. I am sending you a copy of my response enclosed. I assume that by now you have seen my original article in the May–June issue of Jewish Life. I am willing to abide by your recommendation, although my first impulse, as I wrote to Domb, is to ignore them. Although I am still in the country, I do come to the city quite often and so it is best to write to me at the Jewish Center. Mindy and I and all our family are thrilled that you will be with us, hopefully together with Amelle, at the Bar Mitzvah – at least for the Sunday affair. It will be a great honor and a marvelous sign of friendship. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

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Letter to William Frankel about Jewish Chronicle Reporting on "Modern Orthodoxy's Identity Crisis" (1969)

Sirs: Your August 1 issue, containing a news report and editorial concerning my views on “Modern Orthodoxy's identity crisis," arrived during my absence from New York. Hence, the delay in reacting to your comments. The report was accurate in summarizing my position on the need for "Modern Orthodoxy" (a term I dislike, but for which I have found no adequate substitute) to interpret its outlook religiously and unapologetically. My full statement appears in the May-June issue of Jewish Life. Your editorial, however, misstates my views vis-a-vis the differences of opinion that prevail in England. While I appreciate your flattering remarks, I fear that your concluding paragraph vitiates the kind things you said about me. Any objective person who is acquainted with my views and those of Rabbi Jacobs will be astonished to learn that "Rabbi Lamm's thoughts are almost a paraphrase of the approach of Dr Jacobs which made him unacceptable to our Orthodox Establishments." I suspect that Dr Jacobs will take exception to this assertion equally with me.I have consistently insisted that Judaism must be based upon the halakhic commitment and the acceptance of tora min ha-shamayim, and have opposed Franz Rosenzweig's approach permitting a ‘subjective’ selection of which laws and observances to perform. For this reason I am clearly "Orthodox," and am so affiliated, whereas Dr Jacobs has apparently abandoned this position and has so indicated by his membership in the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly.There is no need to belabor the issue. To be critical of Orthodoxy does not and should not make one's Orthodoxy suspect, nor is it grounds for declaring one's views a “paraphrase” of one who is dissociated from this community. Indeed, without in any way committing Dr Jakobovits to prior approval of my opinions, I feel that the Chief Rabbi would not disagree with my contention that our engagement with the world, and particularly our involvement in higher “secular” education, shou…

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