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August 9, 1976

New Head of Yeshiva U. (1976)

Yeshiva University Biographical Material
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Dr. Norman Lamm Assumes Presidency of YU; Selection Culminates an Exhaustive Search (1976)

Trustees’ Selection Of Lamm Ends Search Committee Role: The naming of Dr. Norman Lamm as the third President of Yeshiva University culminated a long and difficult process of selection by the Presidential Search Committee, headed by EMC Dean Jacob Rabinowitz. During, the eight-month search, the fifty-member committee screened fifty-seven nominees before submitting its recommendations to the YU Board of Turstees.. These recommendations led to the Board’s unanimous selection of Dr. Lamm.The fifty members of the Com-mittee represented the various un- dergraduate and graduate divisions of the university, and outsiders chosen to present perspectives on the needs of the university in the area of communal services. A smaller fifteen member work com- mittee, chosen from the full Search Committee, undertook the difficult task of advising and setting guidelines for the main committee.To profile the president Yeshiva needed, the work committee pre- sented the full committee with a list . of thirty-five possible quali- fications for a YU president and asked the members of the full committee to signify the im- portance which they accorded each by ranking each on an “A" to “F” scale. “A” represented absolutely essential qualifications, and “F” represented those of no import- ance. Although the thirty-five-item list included such criteria as scholarship, academic position, and contacts in the Jewish and sec- ular world, over ninety percent of the committee’s members designat- ed dedication to academic excel- lence, concern for the religious cen- trality and tradition in the Univer- sity, leadership qualities, and sen- sitivity to moral issues as either ab-solutely necessary or extremely im- portant qualifications.״Fund rais- ing, interestingly, was not con- sidered to be of major significance.Rabbi Rabinowitz stressed the fact that the Board of Trustees took no part in the selection until they received the committee’s recom- mendations on June 30. He said that, “At no time did the…
Yeshiva University Biographical Material

Article

Dr. Norman Lamm is Third President of YU (1976)

Wednesday, August 4, 9 a.m. The President's Suite on the fifth floor of Furst Hall came to life. A vibrancy of actions, motion, ringing phones, footsteps reverberated through the hallways, sending waves of movement and energy throughout the YU complex. Dr. Norman Lamm, 48 years old. American born, alumnus, moved into his post as third President of Yeshiva University. Major changes in any institution just don't happen overnight: months of planning, days and nights of work, and countless hours of effort went into choosing a new chief executive officer and pre­paring for his taking office.On July 13 the Presidential Search Committee delivered its report to the Board of Trustees as charged. On August 3 the Board’s Presidential Search Committee in turn reviewed the University­wide Committee's recommendation at a special meeting. After its approval, the full Board voted unanimously to elect Dr. Lamm President."Yeshiva University, with its 7,000 students, needs the vigor of mind and spirit of Dr. Lamm,” said Max J. Etra, chairman of the Board of Trustees, in making the announcement. "Of the people under serious consideration, all men of achievement, intellect, and accomplishment, the Committee leaned towards a younger, dynamic leader who would provide long term leadership for the institution and who would be able to confront the pressing problems of higher education today."We enter our tenth decade with the conviction that with the help of the Almighty our new President will continue in the great tradition of his distinguished predecessors, Drs. Bernard Revel and Samuel Belkin, and guide the University to new heights of service and excellence," Mr. Etra said.Introducing Dr. LammDr. Norman Lamm brings to office the vigor of Jewish tradition nurtured in American soil and a sensitivity to YU's strengths and needs gained as analumnus and faculty member. He combines a profound scholarship in Torah, philosophy, arts, humanities, and sciences — as a chemist turned rabbi — with t…
Yeshiva University Biographical Material

Speech

Yeshiva University Investiture of Rabbi Doctor Norman Lamm 11/7/1976

Rabbi Lamm is honored by Yeshiva University. Order of speakers: Dean David Mirsky; National Anthem - Cantor Paul Glasser; Invocation - Rabbi Max Schreier VP Student Affairs - Dr. Israel Miller; Miriam Kopelman; Dr. Lawrence Eisenberg; New York State Education Commissioner - Ewald B. Nyquist; US Representative - Herbert Tenzer; Jack D. Weiler; Max J Etra; Max Stern; Rabbi Doctor Norman Lamm; Benediction - Rabbi Maurice Lamm; Hatikvah - Cantor Paul Glasser.
Yeshiva University Biographical Material