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Correspondence

June 6, 1968

Letter to R. Wurzburger about Tradition Symposium on Israel (1968)

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Exchange with R. Wurzburger about Tradition Publication (1967)

Dear Walter: Our friend Marks just called me after calling you and is in a state of hysteria. Apparently the firm is shortly going into their holiday promotion, so a small delay in receiving your fancy goods will precipitate a paroxysmus at Heb. Publ. Co. Please, Walter, the world is crazy enough as is. Help the poor man keep his sanity. Lovingly, Norman
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Letter to R. Wurzburger about Tradition Symposium Proposal on Topic of "Yom Tov Sheni" (1963)

Dear Walter: A couple of years ago I wrote a paper, for my own amusement, on “The Holiday of the Exiles” – a defense of the Orthodox position on “Yom Tov Sheni.” It has been gathering dust in my files ever since. Now someone has made available to me the enclosed report which, as I had suspected years ago, was both to appear and ultimately result in the Conservatives accepting the Reform position, and presenting us with a new issue for public controversy. Unfortunately, with our extremely un-hierarchical structure, we have no central authority to mobilize our forces in advance to meet oncoming problems. I believe, therefore, that especially in this instance, Tradition is best equipped to deal with this matter in a substantive way.If we wait until the issue is broached publicly by the Conservatives, we will then be reduced once again to wild and undignified polemics instead of an intellectually respectable position.I therefore would like to suggest to you that you arrange, as soon as possible, to set aside a special issue of *Tradition* treating this topic. I do not mean that no other articles be included; rather, that you have a concentration of material dealing with this theme. I would invite especially historians to analyze it carefully, and then articulate halakhists to treat it from their point of view and, finally, some intellectual publicistic material to be included as well.Let me know what you think about the proposal, and please please return the enclosed to me. Also, if you want to see the essay I once wrote, provided I can find it, I shall be glad to mail it on to you.Sincerely,RABBI NORMAN LAMM
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Correspondence

Letter from R. Wurzburger Regarding Treasury of Tradition (1965)

Dear Norman: Many thanks for your letter of the 16th which just reached me today. I am grateful to you for undertaking the chore of getting consent of our contributors for “A Tradition Treasury.” With respect to your own article, I frankly would prefer that we do not include any articles appearing after the summer issue 1965. Frankly, I also believe that your extra-terrestrial piece is a bit too spacious for such a Reader. I have also a slight personal interest in the publication of your Unity theme since my Pluralism in the Halakhah is predicated upon it. In the event that you decide to pull yours out, I must make very extensive revisions in my own article.I certainly think that excerpts of your editorial piece should be made available to various weekly magazines. I could certainly bring it to their attention, but if you have better contacts, why not use them? I’ll see to it that you get page proofs either directly or to the magazines directly.The Balshan is in writing but not in contractual form. I have no doubt that they would be willing to sign a contract.Just one other personal comment, I must correct your statement that your handwriting versus mine is. Compared to mine, yours is a work of art, worthy of the disciple of Rabbi Kook’s yearning for beauty and harmony.As ever, yours,Cordially,Walter WurzburgerPublished by the Rabbinical Council of America
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