Dear Mr. Tenzer: The following are the facts in the case of the Jewish family whom I am trying to help emigrate to Israel. Dr. Benjamin Josephovitz Shapira, of 21 A/37 Frunza Street, Belgorod Oblastnoi, USSR, is a 40-year old chemical engineer. His wife, Margareta, is 37 years old and is a teacher. They have a 12 year-old daughter. Dr. Shapira is the only son of Rabbi and Mrs. S. Joseph Shapira, who emigrated from Czernowitz-Bucovina to Israel in 1967. They reside at 14/5 Almagor Street, Neveh Sharet, Tel Aviv.Dr. Shapira has applied six times for permission to emigrate and be reunited with his parents. The last such application was on February 5, 1973. All have been turned down, and no serious reason offered for it. The result of his requests has been that since last July he lost his job as a lecturer in chemistry in the University of Belgorod, and has remained unemployed save for some temporary unimportant work.As stated his sixth application was made on February 5, 1973. All six were presented to the local authority, Col. Alexander Ivanovitz Epichin in Belgorod Oblastnoi, and not to Moscow.On March 15, 1973, he went to the Home Ministry, Central Ovir, and they promised to look into the matter. They asked Col. Epichin for his answer, but he has not replied other than a vague assertion that the local organization has to meet on the problem.I have written to various Jewish organizations; to President Nixon and Mr. Waldheim; to Ambassador Dobrynin, Mr. Kosygin, and Mr. Brezhnev. So far, nothing has happened. Rabbi Shapira’s letters are agonizing and heart-breaking.I have contacted Dr. Prat, who has nothing substantive to add to my plan. Mr. Jerry Goodman of the American Conference for Soviet Jewry recommends that Senator Javitz be used only if he feels that he has not over-extended himself in using up his contacts with Dobrynin. What we do not want is a perfunctory letter which will remain ineffective. Goodman further suggests that you might know some non-Jewish bus…

Dear Herbert: Pursuant to the last item in the letter of appointment signed by you, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yeshiva University, on November 25, 1977, I hereby give you written notice of my intention to seek reappointment for another term of office as President when my present term expires on August 31, 1979. It has been a pleasure working with you and, together, confronting and seeking to master the challenges faced by the University. I pray that we shall be able to continue these cooperative efforts on behalf of Yeshiva for many years to come. Warmest regards to your wife. Cordially yours, Norman Lamm President

Dear Herbert, I am responding to your letter of December 24th regarding Alfred Moses’s invitation to a January 20 meeting. Jewish unity is vital, especially now when it is so often under attack, and I strongly support dialogue marked by respect and delicacy. Yet I must stress – as the one who first raised the idea of a joint Bet Din last March – that excessive publicity is the surest way to kill the initiative. I am engaged in quiet diplomacy to move this difficult dream forward, and the American Jewish Committee’s public meetings – however well-intentioned – risk making such efforts impossible, much like performing neurosurgery with a butcher’s cleaver. Please urge them to avoid press releases or public pronouncements if they truly want success. More broadly, I fear Jewish unity has been turned into a weapon against Orthodoxy by those who tolerate intermarriage without even Reform conversion, who co-officiate with priests, and who now press patrilineal descent – while simultaneously condemning us for upholding halakhah. As a moderate Orthodox voice, I have spoken out against our extremists, but I cannot accept being unjustly bludgeoned by slogans of unity when others boycott MKs, threaten the UJA, or demand blanket institutional support in Israel. I urge you to attend these meetings, to articulate firmly the Orthodox position with dignity, and to work for real unity that does not come at the cost of halakhic principle. Forgive the length of this response; I trust you will keep it private for now. Mindy joins me in warm regards to Florrie, with prayers for her health, and best wishes for a joyous Hanukkah. Cordially, Norman Lamm.