Dear Norman, Please excuse my delayed reply to your two letters, for which I thank you. Frankly, I have been preoccupied with the matter I discussed with you, at the expense of all my other duties and interests. I am sending to you a photostatic copy of the memorandum which you already read and other enclosures by the same people, as well as a memorandum in Yiddish which is of particular importance. These papers, together with the Saturday Evening Post article, should give you the necessary background. I think you should particularly stress the point that religious observance should not be associated with political activity. This is of particular importance, as every kind of evil is being attributed to the synagogues in Russia. Specific requests should be made for all the necessary religious services and should be specified in detail.We should also bear in mind the memorandum to Senator Cooper. I am sending your suggested letters to the Department of Defense to Bernie Levmore, although I think he has already sent thank-you letters by himself.As to the letter to the rabbis in Indiana, I think it may be useful to wait until next week when Moe comes back, so that perhaps the letter may be signed jointly.I hope to talk to you after you prepare the suggested paper.Regards, ZWW

Dear Norman: Enclosed please find final copy of the speech you have prepared for Capehart. I have made a few minor changes on the final draft to which I hope you will not object. I have known that you write and deliver excellent sermons. However, I did not know how excellent your talents are in political speech writing. Perhaps we ought to suggest to someone to put you on Kennedy’s ghostwriting staff. (He doesn’t write any of them himself.) Regards.In the last few years we have become accustomed to hearing periodic reports of a "thaw" in the Soviet Union. No doubt changes have been, and possibly are, taking place. But if we want to take the long view, and test the depth and genuineness of these reports, we might profitably examine the current treatment of Russian Jews by the Communist government.Throughout the history of civilization, the attitudes of the prevailing power to the Jewish minority have often been an indicator of the whole nature of that government. If the Jews were treated equally with the rest of the citizens of that country, no better and no worse; if they were given the basic rights necessary for survival both physically and spiritually; if they were treated, in other words, as human beings; then the general nature of the government was civilized. But if the policy towards the exposed Jewish minority was sinister; if it were singled out for discriminatory action; then any attempts by that government to appear as otherwise humane and honorable were a mere façade and utterly unconvincing.Last winter there took place the arrest, trial, and conviction of Sedalia R. Pechersky, the religious lay leader of the Jewish community of Leningrad. Shortly afterwards followed government action against the lay leaders of five other Jewish congregations, and the closing of synagogues in a dozen other Russian cities. Then, in early spring, came the reports of the difficulties that Communist authorities were placing in the way of Jews desirous of obtaining Matzohs, o…

Dear Norman: I have received your corrected draft, for which I thank you. I have also returned your call, but you were not in. I should like to clarify that I did not send the rough draft to you – part of which I did not even read before it was sent to you – for correction, but rather to help Moe and myself with whatever ideas you might be able to contribute. I do realize that you are very preoccupied and I have resolved, therefore, not to impose upon you with these letters, however important they might be, unless you specifically express a desire to be of assistance. A good Shabos.ZWW/mmRabbi Norman LammThe Jewish Center131 West 86th StreetNew York 24, New YorkThe fact mentioned above completely refutes the standard answers on the Jewish question the Soviet leaders usually give when inquiries are made about the subject.**The Honorable John F. Kennedy**President of the United StatesThe White HouseWashington, D.C.Dear Mr. President:As one who has a large constituency of citizens of the Jewish faith, I have become keenly aware of their distress at the unendurable anguish of Russian Jewry. As the President of the country which contains the largest population of Jews in the world today, and in view of the new orientation in Soviet-American relationships, you are the only person in the world today who can effectively broach this topic to Mr. Krushchev in a manner which will assure you a unique place in history.Parenthetically, I hear that your comment about the closing of synagogues, in your recent address at the U.N., evoked much enthusiasm amongst American Jews.Soviet Jewry, numbering some three million, is next to American Jewry the largest Jewish community in the world. It is being crushed by an official policy of attrition which seeks gradually to pulverize and ultimately to eliminate Jewish identity. Yet, despite all the hardships, there are large masses of Soviet Jews who profoundly desire to maintain their Jewish identity.It is tragic, from a purely human point…

Dear Mr. Wolfson: I appreciate your consideration and understanding of my position. You know that I sympathize completely with your project and do not in the least underestimate its importance. However, there are so very many important things that clamor for our exclusive attention that each of us must decide in accordance with his tastes and talents and inclinations, what he prefers to work on and for. I enclose a pamphlet which is a copy of a recent talk I gave. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Dear Zev and Chana: As delighted as Mindy and I were to receive your invitation, so do we feel bad that we must very very regretfully decline it. The night of December 15th has been reserved for a very special celebration of an event in the life of a dear friend of ours, who is a member of my synagogue, and who set the date specifically at my recommendation. It begins about the same time that your party does. Such are the complexities of our lives that much as we would want to be with you, we have no choice but to absent ourselves. That does not mean that we do not join in wishing the both of you Mazal-Tov wishes from the very bottom of our hearts. May the Almighty grant you many many years of endless "nachas" from Alisa and your other children. Please remember us to all your guests, our dear friends. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Zev: Last night two people called me after their return from Washington: Rabbi Jakobovits and Mr. Max Stern. Both of them gave me glorious reports about the luncheon in the Senate Building and the meeting with President Johnson. I understand that the success of the afternoon surpassed all expectations. I want, therefore, to express to you in writing my sincerest and most enthusiastic congratulations. There is no doubt that the success of the occasion is a tribute to your own loyalty, competence and perseverance. You have really done a wonderful job, and you ought to be very proud of your splendid achievements. May the Almighty grant you many more years of health and happiness for you and your family in which to accomplish such magnificent feats. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Zev: Please be kind enough to give this copy to Dr. Aaron Zeitlin, to whom I am eternally grateful for having made available to me a copy of the original poem by his late and sainted father. For some reason, this is a poem that inspired me during my youth, and has lost none of its freshness and grandeur despite the fact that I have become stale during the course of the years... I hope to see you next week.Cordially,Rabbi Norman LammNL:cwEnc.שיר-משיחהלל צייטלין זצ"ל(נכתב בורשה השנת תרפ"ח)כוכב לכוכב יביע:הנה המושיע!רעם לרעם ישמיע:בר-אנש מרקיע!נאום רוח לרוח: שאהו שא!שחר לשחר: הוא בא הוא בא!הר להר: משמעו צעדותיו!ארח לארח: נגלו עקירותיו!יער ליער: הכון למועד!שיח לשיח: אני שמח – רועד!ים אומר לים: יחרד הלויתן!הרקיע לארץ: בא יבא החתן!Planet to planet intones:"The redeemer comes, he comes!"Storm to storm erupts in cry:"The sun of man – from the sky!"Wind to wind: "Bear him aloft!"Morn to morn: "He comes, so soft!"Hill to hill: "His steps I hear!"Path to path: "His heals appear!"Forest to forest: "Prepare!"Tree to tree: "I glow – and fear!"Sea to sea: "Make room, make room!"Heaven to Earth: "Hail, O Groom!"Written in Warsaw, 1928Translated: May, 1973