Letter to Dr. Avi Rockoff about Exchanging Writings and "Chabura Tachat Chabura" (1995)

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Dear Avi: Many thanks for your letter and the enclosures – all of which I read with much interest and delight. My grandfather, o.b.m., who was also my Rebbe, wrote a couple of sefarim. When another author mailed his work to my grandfather, the latter would respond by sending him a copy of his sefer, and inscribe it: chaburah tachat chaburah... In the same spirit, I enclose a number of recent publications, and will have another one sent to you separately. Keep them coming! NL:ro enclosure 500 West 185th Street, New York, N.Y. 10033 – (212) 960-5280

Exchange with Dr. Avi Rockoff about the Chag Hasemicha (1998)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I just wanted to congratulate you on the splendid chag hasemicha this past Sunday. My wife and I were there because Rabbi Samuels was among the inductees, and also because our future mechutanim’s current son-in-law, Akiva Sacknovitz, was too. (Our own son Ari was engaged last week. This is a new, and very pleasant, phase for us.) The speakers were excellent, particularly Ari Berman and Minister Ne’eman, whose presence was obviously of political significance. He was a little hard to hear, but what he had to say was very much to the point. And of course hearing you speak is always a great pleasure. Oratory like yours is really a lost art — I can hardly think of anyone who practices it, in this country anyway. I particularly enjoyed the way you turned the Yosi ben Kisma baraita into a dramatic dialogue, complete with colloquial inflections. Terrific! I also enjoyed the irony of hearing you advocate taking controversial positions (or non-positions), while standing in front of a faculty who presumably thought that’s just what you were doing. I just wonder, though — how many of the new musmachim are actually planning careers in the pulpit? Anyhow, a hearty yasher koach from the out-of-towner. Best wishes to you and your family for a chag kasher v’sameach. Avi Rockoff

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Exchange with R. Brodie about Their Friendship and Receipt of "Hekhal Yitzchak" (1962)

My Dear Chief Rabbi Brodie: I received today from Israel a copy of Hekhal Yitschak by the late Chief Rabbi Herzog, of blessed memory. An accompanying note informed me that it was being sent to me with your compliments. May I thank you most kindly for your thoughtfulness in having the volume sent to me. I truly appreciate it. At the same time let me tell you personally what I and all my colleagues have been telling each other and all our friends: that you have our deepest and most everlasting admiration for your courageous display of principle with regard to the unfortunate controversies taking place in London – a quality all too rare in the contemporary rabbinate. May God grant you and Mrs. Brodie many years of strength, health, and continued creativity on behalf of Torah and Israel. Respectfully yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

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Letter from Dr. Avi Rockoff with Rosh Hashana Greetings (1996)

Dear Rabbi Lamm, I hope you and your family are well. I understand you have a sabbatical coming up, which I hope will turn out to be both restful and productive. My son Ari, who is involved with dormitory administration this year, tells me of many new additions and refurbishings. He even says the food, and especially the shabbos cholent, is awesome. If that isn't a סימן ברכה, I don't know. Best wishes for a כתיבה וחתימה טובה.

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