My Dear Dr. Warhaftig: I hope you will excuse me for not writing to you in Hebrew, but as you probably realize it is much easier for me to correspond in English, in which language I can dictate and have the letters typed for me. Rabbi Kirshblum has just informed me that you have an appropriate candidate for the position as rabbi in Bombay, India. He has inquired of Mr. Moe Feuerstein, President of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, as to whether the Union is prepared to share in his salary. A great deal, of course, depends upon the candidate. As you may know, I spent some time in India last year on behalf of the Union and the Rabbinical Council of America, and I am more or less an authority in dealings with India. Complicating this problem is the rather unusual conditions and policies regarding the Chief Rabbi’s ecclesiastical office. I would appreciate it very much, therefore, if you will send me as many details as possible about the candidate, of his background, qualifications, and requirements. I would appreciate it if these were forwarded to you, if you were to notify me of events as they develop so that, perhaps, we may be of some assistance in achieving the objective that is sacred to all of us. With all good wishes, Most respectfully yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Dear Dr. Wahrhaftig: Mr. Max Stern, the distinguished Chairman of our Overseas Commission, received a letter from the Kol Torah Yeshiva in Jerusalem, dated Tammuz 9, in which he is informed that a student from Bombay has reached the conclusion of his studies at this institution. He should now be trained as a Shochet, Mohel and Sofer. The Hanhalah of Kol Torah recommends that the young man now undergo appropriate training through courses sponsored by either the Sochnut or the Misrad Hadatoth. As you surely know, our Overseas Commission and Mr. Stern, personally, are deeply interested in this student and in the other Bene Israel students whose coming to Israel has been due in some measure to efforts initiated by us in India. We shall deeply appreciate all possible assistance your Ministry can extend to this young man, so that he may undergo the proper training. His return to India upon the completion of his training will bring great benefits to the Bene Israel community.Yesterday morning, I spoke to Rabbi Gotthold in Bombay. We had received no direct reports from him since he left London on May 26th. Last week, in quick succession, two cables arrived, the first one asking for an additional $1,000, and the second one, two days later, announcing the termination of his mission due to our uncooperativeness. Since we knew that no other rabbis had joined Rabbi Gotthold in India, we were unable to understand the sudden need for additional funds. According to Rabbi Gotthold's initial and in our opinion rather high cost estimate, the first $1,000 we sent him should have been sufficient for at least two months of his maintenance.Rabbi Gotthold told me on the phone that he is utilising local persons instead of the expected rabbis and that he must pay their expenses. He assured me that he would send a detailed report to Mr. Stern. In my letter to him of today, I again pointed out the absolute need for detailed reports, including information on the persons he is employing. I trus…

Dear Joe: I am sorry that I have not had the chance to meet you personally in the week or so since I have returned from Israel. Let this, then, be my פרי פי to you – and to Dr. Weiss as well, since he is receiving a copy of this letter. Please do me the favor of reading this letter carefully, for I shall be very brief. If you want me to supplement it with any more information, you know that you are free to call on me. During the months I spent in Israel, there occurred the unhappy Ahalon affair. The problem set me thinking as to how we could carefully solve the problem of protecting the integrity of Shabbat and at the same time being considerate of all the demands of the non-observant Jews who, because of a six day week of labor, feels hemmed in and curbed by Sabbath restrictions. I developed an idea which I communicated to Zevulun Hammer, s the leader of the youth group of the N.R.P. I formulated it for him, gave him the background and rationale, he presented it as an amendment to one of the labor coalition meetings. Aloni, the Minister of Labor, was up in opposition to it, and insisted that it be removed from the agenda for discussion. However, Hammer and his group were able to combine forces with Menahem Porush and Menachem Persush from Agudah and the Knesset by 24–22. As of now, then, my Rosh Chodesh plan is in committee in the Knesset, and, if passed, can be amended through further discussion and discussion. I have refrained from elaborating on the nature of the plan, and refer you instead to the enclosed article in the Jerusalem Post which explains it at least in rudimentary fashion. It will also be published in Hebrew in the next edition of Hadoar, and possibly has already appeared in Haaretz. The religious newspapers, of course, have given it prominent display in their news items in Israel. I think that representations by the O.U.J.C.A. to the Prime Minister, and to the Israeli Ambassador to Washington, telling them that the Union heartily endorses the pla…

אישי השר: אחרי כמה וכמה לבטים נפשיים ושיקולים כבדי-ערך, החלטתי שאין השעה כשרה לקבל עלי את נשיאותה של אוניברסיטת בר-אילן שהוצעה לי. מכיון שאינני בטבעי כפוי-טובה, הנני כותב לך שורות אלה להביע אליך תודתי מעומק הלב על התיחסותך הכנה, גלוית-הלב, והנעימה אלי משך כל הזמן הזה. מי יתן וירבו בעלי-תכונות כאלה כי אז אולי היתה ההכרעה נופלת לחיוב. אני תפילה שתמצאו את האישיות המתאימה לשמש כמנהיג אמיתי של האוניברסיטה שתוכל להתגבר על כל הקשיים והמכשולים ושתבליח להוציא לפועל את כל הכחות הכבירים של המוסד ולהמחיש את האידיאלים הנשגבים של מייסדי בר-אילן.הנני חוזר להביע לך ולכל חברי ועד הנאמנים את תודתי ואת הערצתי על האפון שנתתם בי, ולך אישית על ידידותך.בכבוד ויקר,נחום לאם

ר. נ., קבלתי מכתבך מיום י' סיון תשל״ג. אני מודה לך על המלים החמות. נהנתי מכל פגישה אתך ואתה יודע כמה רציתי שתקבל על עצמך את האחריות למפעל הגדול של בר-אילן, זהו מוסד חשוב בעל תפקידים גדולים ואני מקוה שמצפה לו עתיד גדול. בבר-אילן מעוצבת במדה מרובה דמותה של המנהיגות הדתית העתידה בישראל. חבל שהתכנית לא יצאה לפועל. אני עדיין מצטער על שלא החלטת להכנס לעול למרות כל המכשולים. אני מכבד אח החלטתך ואני בטוח שהיחסים בינינו, האישיים והעניניים ישארו ידידותיים ואני מקווה שתמשיך גם בידידותך ובעזרתך לבר-אילן.האחריות לבעיות התמורות של העם היהודי ובמיוחד של היהדות הדתית, מקרבת וצריכה לקרב כל אותם יהודים המפוזרים בעולם והכואבים את כאב עמם ותורתם.בברכה,ז. ורהפטיג

Dear Prof. Lamm: This letter will confirm to you financial arrangements during your term as President of the University, pursuant to your election to that post by the Board of Trustees of the University, effective for a period of five years. You shall receive a salary of IL 4000 per month, payable in monthly installments in accordance with normal University practice, which amount shall be subject to the incremental adjustments on a pro rata basis as granted to the highest ranking full-time academic or administrative employees of the University.You shall receive coverage for yourself and your family under such fringe benefits, health plan coverage or other benefits normally given by the University to full-time academic or administrative employees at the highest grade.The University shall make available to you at a nominal rent not to exceed IL 500 per month, a suitable residence for your personal use and for such entertainment or other functions as President as may be required, fully equipped with appropriate furnishings and appliances. The University shall provide for the maintenance and repair of the residence and its equipment at no cost to you. Such expenditures as you may incur in connection with official entertainment functions at your residence shall be reimbursed upon appropriate vouchers in accordance with the regular practice at the University.The residence to be made available would, if purchased by the University, be subject to your right to acquire the residence at any time, whether before or after termination of your employment, upon payment in full of the amounts paid by the University for the acquisition of the residence and all its furnishings, but without interest or dollar linkage (which right shall, if possible, be reflected in a recorded option instrument) , or, if rented by the University, the rental or lease rights would be assigned to you at any time, whether before or after termination of your employment, at your request.The University will …

Dear Rabbi Lamm: On behalf of the Executive Council of Bar Ilan University I take pleasure in congratulating you on your appointment as President of Yeshiva University. We wish you much success in this very important position. Yours sincerely, Dr. Zerach Warhaftig.

לכבוד הרב פרופ׳ נחום לם נשיא ישיבה אוניברסיטי ניו יורק הרב לם הנכבד, אני מודה לך על ספרך "הרוממות מהעיון בו". אשמח לרעיונך. בברכת כתיבה וחתימה טובה ובכבוד רב, ד״ר זרח ורהפטיג

לכבוד הרב פרופ׳ נורמן לאם שליט״א, הנני משתתף בצערך הרב על פטירת ראש המשפחה היקר ר׳ שמואל ז״ל. המקום ינחם אותך בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים, ולא תוסיף לדאבה עוד.