Letter to Baruch Litvin about His Book on Jewish Identity (1966)

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Letter to Dr. Philip Birnbaum about R. Lamm's Speech at Meal (1966)

Dear Dr. Birnbaum: Please forgive my answering your Hebrew note in English, but this is being dictated slightly before my leaving for the South. Permit me to express to you my deep thanks for reacting to my Seudah talk with the kind of care for detail and accuracy that is so characteristic of you and your scholarship. Of course, your comments are completely correct in pointing to Rashi as the source of the observation of the author of "Hidushei-Hi-Rim."Warmest regards,Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL/le

Miscellaneous

Letter to Myron Kaufmann about His New Book (1966)

Dear Mr. Kaufman, It was a real pleasure hearing from you after all this time. I hope you will believe me when I say that every Wednesday, when I lecture at the "Y", I think of those students I had in the past who gave me good reason to remember them – foremost amongst them, you. Naturally, I am quite pleased with the report you sent to me of your anonymous acquaintance who said such flattering things about me. The remarks made me feel good, not only because they are compliments, but because they justify all the effort that I put into my teaching. Whether I deserve them or not is quite another question.I have been wondering all this while since I last saw you about the progress on your new book. Interestingly, within the last four weeks, two authors of "best sellers" have called me to check out certain facts in new novels they are writing. Is your new book going to deal, in any way, with a Jewish theme or Jewish background? Whatever it is, I am looking forward to it with great expectation.Please give my very fondest regards to your wife, from both me and my own wife. We both remember with great fondness the evening the two of you spent with us at our home. Please do let me hear from you.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM

Miscellaneous

Letter about Introductory Book Recommendations on Judaism (1967)

Dear [redacted]: Charles Bacall had spoken to me about you before and I was therefore pleased to receive your letter. I would recommend two books to you, with the added comment that these are both good introductions, but only introductions. After you have finished them, if you find you are still interested, it would be best to arrange for a personal interview. The two books are: 1. "Judaism" by Isidore Epstein (in paper back only) 2. "History of the Jews" by Cecil Roth (this, too, is in paper back). All good wishes on your spiritual adventure. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

General Jewish History Jewish Education