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Correspondence

Feb. 5, 1975

Letter to Dr. Brayer about Fees for Marriage Counseling (1975)

Marriage & Sexuality
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Exchange about Providing Therapy for Young Gay Man (1976)

Dear Rabbi Lamm: עמו"ש, After reading your article in the 1974 Encyclopedia Judaica Yearbook on "Judaism and the Modern Attitude to Homosexuality," I feel that you could possibly help me in recommending some behavioral therapists or any other professionals in the New York area. I know of a 21 year old Orthodox boy who is seeking help, and would like to see him get the right counselling. I would greatly appreciate your giving this your prompt attention, and hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.Anonymity is requested by the young man,Sincerely yours,"לה' הישועה על עמך ברכתך סלה"תהילים ג'ט'
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Letter to Franklin Rothenberg about Booklet on Marriage for His Upcoming Wedding (1964)

Dear Franklin: Thank you very much for your letter and for confirming the arrangements for your forthcoming wedding. It was a pleasure to meet Bernice. She is obviously a lovely girl, and I hope that the two of you will have many many years of uninterrupted bliss together. I am enclosing a copy of a booklet about which I spoke to Bernice rather extensively. I have already mailed her one. I would like you to read it with the greatest attention, and to remember that a happy married life is much too important a thing to expect to happen casually and thoughtlessly. If you will determine to observe the contents of this booklet, you will at least be fortifying yourself with the elemental necessities for a happy married life. My fondest regards to Bernice and to your folks and to Harriet. Best wishes for a Happy and Kosher Passover. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm
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Letter to Saul Bernstein about Homosexuality Article (1968)

Dear Saul: I am returning to you the photocopy of Morris Smith's letter to the editor, and including a letter from Rabbi Richard Israel of Yale, plus a response by myself. I suggest that the Smith letter be printed first, followed by the Israel letter, and then my answer. Israel first sent his letter to me as a private communication. I then received his permission to reword the letter referring to me in the third person, and have it printed as a letter to the editor of Jewish Life. Since these are communications and not articles, they should be uncensored by the editor. Nevertheless, I would very much appreciate any comments you may have to make about my response. Please let me know when you expect to have these letters published, and please arrange to let me have several extra copies.Rabbi NormanMorris Smith 84 Fifth Ave. New York, N.Y. 10011Dear Mr. Bernstein:Rabbi Lamm’s article on homosexuality in your January–February 1968 edition is most interesting. It represents an application of Jewish principles to a modern subject, an updating of Jewish law to modern life. It is a welcome addition to Jewish thinking for relatively unlearned individuals such as myself. However, one of the conclusions (or side remarks) I find most troublesome — disturbing if it reflects the general attitude in the Orthodox leadership.I refer to the statements that the author presents for advocating that homosexuality should not be treated as a criminal offense. Briefly the two reasons given are: (1) our present society and its judiciary is such that the courts do not wish to intervene when other individuals and society are not directly involved, and (2) our prisons as now constituted would worsen the homosexual’s condition.I assume that the Rabbi agrees that the Orthodox Jew (and others) whom he seeks to guide as well as to teach should be involved in American social and political life, and should participate in developing its laws and its practices. And I also assume that it is desirable …
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