Dear Rabbi Lamm, Has the Festschrift to Rabbi Jung come out yet? I have not seen it anywhere. Also, it is difficult to suppress one’s curiosity why you have resigned from Tradition. With kind regards and best wishes, Sincerely, Eliezer Berkovits

Dear friends, I consent to your publishing the three articles mentioned in your article of Dec. 28 in "A Treasury of Tradition." Sincerely, Eliezer Berkovits

My dear Rabbi Lamm, In a way I would like to continue our conversation of last time, when we met at your office. The fact is that there are two types of Orthodoxy. For lack of a better terminology, I think we’ll need the “doctors” and the “historians.” Writing to you, I need not elaborate. I feel very strongly – and I hope you agree with me – that the time has come to organize a working group in which the present Orthodox camp is well-represented, in which the great thinkers on its distinctive problems meet to establish its own ideals, and reach a definition of the character and nature and specific purposes it should have. Such a group should be built on the most powerful qualities and personalities we have in our generation. It should include men of the younger generation, who already today are great possibilities, and it should be evident that this group speaks for Orthodox Jewry in its most representative way. I believe many thoughtful younger people will feel themselves much more identified with an Orthodoxy which has a self-clarified and well-articulated position. Next beyond the purely congregational and communal, such a group would also have to provide the background to the undertaking of those essential scholarly programs that are discussed on the occasion of such meetings. Needless to say, not all that needs doing can be undertaken at once. But a beginning must be made. It is long overdue. I plan to be in N.Y. at the week-end of March 19, arriving Friday. If necessary, I may be able to stay to the 22nd. Would you be able to interest a few like-minded people to meet in order to discuss the idea? Shortly, I’ll write and suggest names of people. But if not, almost any time should be convenient for me. I am not writing on similar terms to Rabbi Rackman. Kindest regards, Sincerely, Eliezer Berkovits

Dear Dr. Berkovitz: Thank you very much for sending me the draft of your newest article. Because of the importance of the subject, I do not want to comment until I have had a chance to study it further. My first reading leaves me impressed once again with the boldness of your efforts and the sweep of your concern. However, with such intellectual daring come risks, and I do want to think through the problem a bit further before offering my comments. I believe the enclosed letter will explain where I stand on the problem we have been discussing for some months now. My warmest regards to Mrs. Berkovitz. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Norman, Congratulations on your appointment. This was, of course, bound to come: strange that this time the best man available was elected to our important position. I don’t wish you good-bye, not only because I wish you well personally but also, and mainly, because I wish Yeshiva University – and perhaps I ought to say, Judaism at large – well. I believe it is not belittling the achievements of Dr. Belkin if I say that we have reached a stage at which Y.U. needs a new direction, a comprehensively integrated educational philosophy, and an intellectual, devoted confrontation with the problems of the day. You, belonging to another generation, fully involved in the problematics of the contemporary situation, are able to do the job. Speed and mazal tov. I pray that you have the providence that you need for every success. Sincerely, Eliezer Berkovits.

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Many thanks for sending me your articles, lectures, etc. I admire your ability to carry on a creative work of learning and lecturing, writing, managing so successfully the presidency of Y.U. This time, however, I have to write to you. I have just finished your article from Jewish World, titled Illusions. I prized part in clipping into my letter file. Congratulations for a master-piece. The ultimate truth about the present intellectual and spiritual situation. What hurts one most is the bitter truth that what you say may equally be said, though in a different style, about the Yeshivishe Velt. It’s the great tragedy of our times that some of the roshei yeshiva and gedolim are also afflicted with illusions.