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Correspondence

Sep. 29, 1969

Letter to R. Jung about Hijacking of TWA Flight 840 (1969)

Israel & the Middle East
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Exchange with Trans World Airlines about Hijacking of TWA Flight 840 (1969)

Dear Mr. Tillinghast: I am sure that there are many, many others like me who, despite strong feelings, have hesitated heretofore to write to you concerning the role of TWA in the recent hijacking of a TWA plane to Syria. I have no doubt that TWA is doing its best to secure the release of the two Israeli passengers for whom it is fully responsible. Nevertheless, I hope that the company is aware of the fact that the original newspaper reports that the pilot was remaining to oversee repairs rather than to secure the release of the hostages left a terrible impression with all past, present, and potential customers of TWA. Furthermore, it would seem to be good company policy that in the event of such future acts of piracy, no member of crew leave until all passengers have been released. As a frequent air traveler, I know that I would feel much safer were this done, if only for the reason that the number of crew members involved would increase the public protests throughout the world. Recently, a new international airport was opened in Damascus. I understand that airlines of a number of countries have refused to use this airport as a protest against the hijacking. I do not recall seeing any mention of such a refusal by TWA. I wonder, therefore, if you would be kind enough to let me know whether or not the company is using the Damascus airport and what it further proposes to do to secure the release of its two passengers who remain imprisoned in Damascus. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
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Dear Mrs. Gruen, Thank you for showing me the October 19 copy of "Peace News." I was happy to have the opportunity of acquainting myself with the Pacifist point of view. However, I must say that I was shocked and dismayed by the lead story in that issue, entitled "Israel and Jordan" by Brijen K. Gupta. In what purports to be an "inside story" on the Middle East crisis, I have found a most intemperate and one-sided condemnation of Israel certainly not calculated to pacify inflamed passions in that international cauldron. The correspondent's thesis is that Israel's policy of "massive retaliation" is the very factor that is disturbing the peace, and that this is traceable to Ben Gurion's "aggressive Zionism." The sophisticated reportorial verbiage aside, this is the essence of the position of the Arab war lords who have been threatening for over eight years now to "push Israel into the sea." Israel, according to this point of view, must behave like a gentleman and remain supremely oblivious to the murder of its citizens on its own soil, the boycott against it, the closing of international water-ways to its shipping and constant warmongering against it. And if Israel raises a finger in its own defense, that is "naked aggression." It calls to mind the story of the youngster reproached by his father for fighting with his friends. "Who started the fight?" asks Father. "He did," replies the youngster, "he hit me back first.""Israel," the correspondent advises, "must take a lead in creating an atmos-phere of mutual trust and peace." Does not this correspondent, who announces that he is giving "the inside story," acknowledge any of the facts of recent history? Does he not know, or want to know, that Israel from the day of its birth has been asking for peace with the Arabs, and has even included this request in its Declaration of Independence? - that for years now its represent-ative at the U.N. has been asking vainly for the Arab delegates to sit down with him and begin nego…
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Letter to Deborah Lipstadt about Her Experience in Israel (1966)

Dear Debbi: Mrs. Lamm and I were thrilled to receive your lovely post card overflowing, as it was, with such enthusiasm for the Holy Land. The "crazy" things you have been doing certainly are an index of your own vitality and to my own mystic mentality of the "kedushat ha-aretz." We look forward to seeing you upon your return with the marvelously beneficial results of your stay no doubt being evident to all.Your parents and brother are all well, thank Heaven, and we shall give them personal regards to you when they visit.Warmest good wishes from everyone at The Center and from our children in particular.Cordially yours,Rabbi Norman Lamm
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