Letter to R. Fabian Schonfeld about Jewish-Christian Dialogue (1973)

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Letter to Marc Tanenbaum about the Third Ecumenical Council and Jewish-Christian Relations (1964)

Dear Marc: I received this morning the release from the Religious News Service of May 29th concerning your talk in Pittsburgh. While I find that I can, by and large, agree with what you say, I must take exception to some individual features. First, your comment about the Church and Christians needing the decree "in order to restore unambiguously the Biblical and prophetic mode of Christian life and thought." I think it may be gratuitous for us to advise Christians how to restore the pristine purity of their faith. Inevitably, it leads us into complications which are not always foreseen. In this case, it would imply that if the decree is accepted, then we will acknowledge the “Biblical and prophetic” nature of Christian life. Of course, I deny it, decree or no decree. Even without anti-Semitism, Christianity, in the traditional Jewish view, does not partake of the nature of Biblical and prophetic modes.Secondly, I do not share your sentiment that placing the decree within the secretariat for \[relations with non-Christians] will lead to "such great misgivings among many thoughtful Catholics as among Jews." I already expressed to you orally, when we met earlier this week, my feeling that this indeed is the secretariat which should handle the decree, and that, on the contrary, I am keenly suspicious of this decree being placed in the context or secretariat of "Christian unity."My best wishes for a pleasant and healthful summer.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:ffCC: M. Feuerstein

Interfaith

Letter from R. Joseph Lookstein about "The Case Against Dialogue" (1967)

My dear Rabbi Lamm: Thank you for sending me the reprint of your article on the subject of the Dialogue. I read it with a great deal of interest, and I am in full agreement with your position. A very happy and kosher Passover to you. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein, JHL

Interfaith

Letter to Isidore Bookbinder about "The Case Against Dialogue" (1967)

Dear Is: I was truly delighted to hear from you, and not at all displeased to receive your gracious and enthusiastic endorsement of ray views on Dialogue. Your neighbor, Msgr. [redacted], is a real ״tachshit.״ In two previous articles I had done for Jewish Life, I made a number of references to him and his overt missionary efforts. We are in complete agreement on this point. Once again, my devoted thanks and my warmest personal regards – as well as from Mindy and my folks – to you and yours.I look forward to not only hearing from you again, but to meeting you personally. Of course, if you decide to attend the Talmud lectures next year, plG., it will be a great source of pleasure to me.Warmest regards,Cordially yours,Rabbi Norman LammRNL/fz

Interfaith