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Materials Relating to Renaming of Erna Michael College and Endowment of Jewish Philosophy Professorship to R. Lamm

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Biographical Sketch: Dr. Norman Lamm, Erna and Jakob Michael Professor of Jewish Philosophy (1976)

Dr. Norman Lamm, rabbi, philosopher, and teacher known for his interpretations stressing the relevance of traditional Judaism to contemporary life, was named Erna and Jakob Michael Professor of Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University in June 1966. Earlier, Dr. Lamm had served as assistant professor of Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University's Teachers Institute for Men, fore­runner of the present Erna Michael College of Hebraic Studies. Dr. Lamm is also rabbi of The Jewish Center in New York City. Affiliated with The Jewish Center since 1958, he was, prior to that, spiritual leader of Congregation Kodimoh in Springfield, Massachusetts, for five years. Within the religious and scholarly communities, Dr. Lamm has earned wide recognition for his challenging writings and discourses on the contemporaneity of traditional Jewish principles in a world concerned with such questions as the possibility of life on other planets, laboratory-created life, the moral legality of confessions, and social changes which have affected marital relationships. In a much-discussed article in Tradition, a scholarly publication which he helped found, Dr. Lamm contended that discovery of life on other planets and creation of life in a laboratory would not conflict with traditional Judaic principles, but would demonstrate their validity. In 1970–71, during a half-year sabbatical spent teaching and lecturing in Israel, Dr. Lamm proposed a solution to the recurring religious crises concerning Sabbath observance. “The Rosh Hodesh Plan,” as it is known, was submitted to the Knesset and evoked much comment and discussion throughout Israel and abroad. One of his many works, The Royal Reach: Discourses on the Jewish Tradition and the World Today, deals with a variety of themes, offering Jewish viewpoints on such issues as violence, law and order, space exploration, and parent–child relationships in the contemporary world. For this book, and for Faith and Doubt, he received the Abramowitz–Zeitlin Awa…
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Tribute

In Honor of Dr. Norman Lamm (2010)

It is with great pleasure that I pay tribute to Dr. Lamm on the occasion of the celebration of the Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm prize presented this week to Rabbi Dr. Lord Jonathan Sacks. Dr. Lamm has been a distinguished leader of American Orthodoxy for more than half a century and of our yeshiva for close to three decades. One pasuk in the biblical book that bears his name describes Dr. Lamm’s tenacious and passionate efforts on behalf of our community. “...Man the guard posts, watch the road, gird your strength and gather much vigor” (Nachum 2:2).I want to frame my few words of tribute in honor of Dr. Lamm by making reference to the titles of some of his many works. Visionary leader and gifted orator, multi-faceted intellectual and powerful thinker. Dr. Lamm has devoted his life to the Jewish community. His “royal reach“ has embraced those who have both “faith and doubt,“ and the profundity of his teachings has illuminated many of the “seventy faces“ of Judaism, especially “Torah Utnadda.“ His thoughtful writings have contributed to our understanding of both Rabbi Hayyim of Volozhin’s “Torah lishmah” as well as “the religious thought of Hasidism.“ His works have constructed a “hedge of roses" protecting and enhancing the “treasury of tradition,” the “halakhot ve'halikhot” of Jewish life, lore and practice. Collectively, they comprise a “library’ of Jewish law and ethics," serving as guides to contemporary Jewish life. In a lifetime of service to Klal Yisrael, Dr. Lamm has valiantly toiled to ensure that contemporary Jewish life be a “good society,” governed by the value of “shema ” or respectful listening.May Hakadosh Baruch Hu grant Dr. Lamm many more happy years of good health and sound mind to continue his very important work and to enjoy together with Mindy and all the members of their extraordinary and wonderful family.
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Program for the Installation of Rabbi Norman Lamm (1954)

The Lord will give strength unto His people – the Lord will bless His people with peace. Congregation Kodimoh cordially invites you to attend the installation exercises of Rabbi Norman Lamm, Sunday afternoon, May 2, 1954, at 2:30 p.m., at Kodimoh Synagogue, Springfield, Massachusetts. Saturday and Sunday, 28th and 29th of Nissan, 5714 – May 1st and 2nd, 1954. Saturday morning: services at 8:30 a.m., sermon by Rabbi Israel Klavan, Executive Director, Rabbinical Council of America; kiddush following services. Saturday afternoon: halakhic dissertation by Rabbi Marvin Luban, 6:00 p.m., Congregation Rodphey Sholom, Holyoke, Massachusetts; Minchah services at 7:00 p.m.; Seudah Shelishit address by Rabbi Samuel Price, Emeritus, Temple Beth El. Saturday evening: reception and open house, 9:00 p.m., vestry of Kodimoh. Sunday afternoon: synagogue auditorium, installation exercises at 2:30 p.m.; installation address by Rabbi Joseph Lookstein, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, Professor, Yeshiva University, New York, NY. Greetings by Rabbi Eliezer Levi (Temple Beth El), Rabbi Herman Snyder (Sinai Temple), Rabbi Moses D. Sheinkopf (Beth Israel Synagogue), and Lieutenant Maurice Lamm, Chaplain, United States Army. Musical selections by Cantor Herman B. Abramson and the Kodimoh Choir. Sunday evening: Hotel Kimball, installation banquet at 6:30 p.m.; address by Rabbi Joseph M. Baumol, Crown Heights Yeshiva, Brooklyn, NY. Greetings by Rabbi Burton Mehler (Violet Park Jewish Center, Bronx, NY), Rabbi Hugo Mantell (Congregation Sons of Zion, Holyoke, MA), and Rabbi Solomon Sigel (Congregation Sons of Jacob).
Biographical Material