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

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Letter of Condolences to J. Kletsky (1962)

Dear Jay: I do not know how to begin this letter. I just read of the terrible news in the Springfield Jewish News and called Lou Izenstein immediately. Mindy and I are still reeling from the impact of the shock. How contradictory and antithetical the very thought of death is to all Lillian was. Lively, vibrant, dynamic, blessed with a gracious vigor, hers was the kind of personality one quite naturally assumes is immortal. One never associates such people with anything but the tempo, rhythm, and excitement of life itself.Although we were not in contact with you since you left for Florida and we for New York, we thought of the two of you often. And whenever we did, the memory of Lil’s liveliness and loveliness suffused us with the warmth of old friendship reawakened, if only for a few precious moments. Tears, certainly, but words are a poor and utterly inadequate substitute for her presence. Yet I know that she would have, in her characteristic fashion, dismissed all excessive eulogizing and extravagant emotions as unnecessary and undesirable.You’ve lost a lot, Jay, but few people have drunk as deeply from the cup of happiness as have you and Lil. Legions of men would gladly trade in all of their future for but a slice of your past. G-d blessed you with a wonderful and no one can now deprive you of your precious and blessed memories. May they be, for you and your children, a source of everlasting strength and comfort.Sincerely,RABBI NORMAN LAMM

Death & Mourning

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

Dear Yaakov: I was shocked and grieved to receive the news, which I just did from my sister, of the passing away of your beloved father ע"ה. While I met him once or twice, I did not have the privilege of knowing him well. I do know that I was always impressed by your loyalty and love as a son, and I appreciate how bereaved you and other members of the family must feel. There is little one can say from a distance, save that I join you in your sorrow and that Mindy and I offer you our most sincere and heartfelt condolences.To you and other members of the family, go our most profound wishes that המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושליםCordially,Rabbi Norman LammNL:cw

Death & Mourning