Gentlemen: I had hoped that it would never be necessary to send this letter concerning your new luxury liner, Shalom. I believe you ought to know that not only I as a rabbi, but many of our leading laymen are most deeply distressed over the terribly unwise decision to install two kitchens on the Shalom. We find this offensive to our religious sensibilities as Jews. My congregation in particular consists of people who have for many years been plough supporters of everything and anything connected with Israel. Our pulpit has urged them in that regard, promoted Israeli firms, and support Israeli projects. I feel quite certain, however, that if the Zionist movement is forced to put their plans into practice, thereby stigmatizing the American Jews and forcing him into a “kosher ghetto” aboard an Israeli liner, he would be forced to turn his enthusiasm elsewhere. You may be sure that the preferences have always given to such concerns as El Al and Zim. We regard Zim’s explanation of its position as totally inadequate and as offensive to us and to Jewish religious sensibility. If this is the choice to be made between halakhah and what Zim considers “progress,” then halakhah wins, as it has won throughout the ages. If, therefore, the position of the Zim lines, where the presence of non-kosher kitchens is equated to offense and discourtesy, I hope that your concern will consider this matter most seriously and not take this final, irrevocable step, which will alienate so many otherwise enthusiastic advocates of everything Israeli. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm