Dear Rabbi: At the outset I must first say "Mazel Tov" and lets together make "Shehecheyonu" that we have lived to see that The R.C.A. has its own "Tradition." As for myself I congratulate you as the Editor and your board of editors for seeing to it that "Tradition" came out as good as it did. This letter comes to you from a man by the name Baruch Litvin living in Mount Clemens, Michigan, the fellow that is fighting windmills, the fellow who started the "Milchamas Hashem" against letting the laity in a Synnagogue by majority vote decide Hallacha, which means taking over the prerogatives of the Rabbis, and of course once we let this thing go by without a fight the next thing then follows: what was taken up on the concervative convention that the laity must have the final, in determinning the norms of the ritual and ethical behavior, yes the Rabbi can be consulted but the final say is left with the "Am Aratzim and the women" (please excuse my attitute toward the the women and their husbands who do not know the difference of an Alef to a Beis).I do not wish to burden you with the vast amount of information gathered by myself in regards the Tradition of Mechitzos, but I feel that Mechitzos are entitled to be spread on the pages of ״Tradition" as a part of what the alms of Tradition is, and should be.Should you give serious consideration to my way of thinking I can arrange a meeting between you and myself and give you much more material than I am stating now. Your Secretary Profesor fox knows me and is well aquainted with the case same is Rabbi Sharfman, Rabbi Rockman, and I am making this plea to you, and your board to consider Litvins thought on the matter of Mechitzos, that Judaism will stand or chas Vecholile fall by the attitude of the Rabbis towards mixed pews.I need not go into detail as I am aware that I am writing to Rabbis and I am only a laymen Vehamaskil Yovin.Please if after deliberation you find merit in my thinking that "Tradition" Must take up the fight …

Dear Marv: Many thanks for the reprints of your review of "Ever Since Sinai," which appeared in a recent issue of Judaism. I had read the review in the original, and was, as usual, much impressed by it. Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful to you for remembering me. As a matter of fact, one of the things I truly regret in having resigned from “Tradition” is the cessation of our correspondence. But maybe, someday, you will decide no longer to be a hick and, instead, come to the Big City with other “mentschen”...Fondest regards to June and the children, and please let me hear from you when you are in the city—after the summer.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM

Dear Marvin: Not having corresponded with you in a long time, I should probably begin with the usual social amenities. Please, therefore, consider them exchanged, executed, and done with. The reason for my writing is to make a confidential inquiry of you. You know the complicated situation that prevails in England with regard to the Principalship of Jews College. The situation is quite critical, and the right man in that position can, by a kind of chain reaction, have a profound effect on the future course of Anglo-Jewry. I am anxious to make a recommendation to Chief Rabbi Brodie who, I know, will give my proposal very serious consideration. The search seems to center on you. You have, to my mind, all the necessary qualifications for the position, and I think it will give you the kind of forum which will be proper for your own talents, ambitions, and principles. I need not, and perhaps cannot, elaborate to any greater extent at this time. I do think that it is a tremendous opportunity in a situation which can have historic consequences. I would want your agreement in writing that you would be willing to consider an invitation. This, of course, does not bind you to any eventual agreement. If I can receive your consent to this point by return mail, I will feel free in contacting Rabbi Brodie immediately.Of course, all these negotiations will be held in strictest confidence by me and by the people in England, as I know it will be by you.All best regards to June and the children.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM

Dear Marvin: Thank you very much for the clippings of your two reviews from ”Commentary.״ Not only am I happy to see that stylistically and content-wise, you are up to par, but I am even more delighted by the fact that you so resoundingly confirm my various opinions, prejudices, and biases! I hope your problem, about which you called me, has been successfully resolved with the assistance of the Beth Din. I enclosed two reprints in which you may be vaguely interested. My fondest regards to June and the children. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Dear Marvin: Mrs. Arthur Hyman informed me that you will be coming in for Shabbat in order to be present to participate at the Conference on Friday night and Sunday. I am purposely being brief, because I hope to have much more opportunity to talk with you when you get to New York. Please accept this invitation to spend Friday night with me and my family. We are within easy walking distance of Hotel Windermere, where you will be staying. Please be a good fellow and let me know at once that we can expect you.Best wishes to your wife and the little Foxes and regards from my wife and the little Lamms.Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNLsf

Dear Norm: I had hoped to see you at the meetings of the Conference on Jewish Philosophy but was disappointed. Unfortunately, I left in such a hurry that I had no chance even to call you. I am writing to ask a question, if not to make a complaint. I finally have seen a copy of a Treasury of Tradition. I had assumed that the contributors would receive at least the courtesy of a copy of a volume. I have never received such a copy. I was also interested to see though an article of mine is printed, my name is not listed among the contributors. I don't normally react to such matters, but I did think it ought to be called to your attention. My best to you and your family. Cordially yours, Marvin Fox

Dear Marvin: I just read and very much enjoyed your “Prolegomenon” to Cohen’s "The Teachings of Maimonides." (1) What are you ibbiding to in your ibid in n. 21? (2) For purposes of possible revision in a new edition: what you have to say about Rabad's gloss on Maimonides is reinforced from the version of that gloss preserved by Albo (your n. 32) (3) You "read between the lines" of Strauss and Pines to conclude that they considered Maimonides a heretic. I read between your lines and conclude that you do not overly disagree with them. Am I a Satmarer if you conclude from my lines themselves and not in between, that I don’t agree with you? What the whole Strauss-Pines-Becker school has not done, it seems to me, is to lay down some hermeneutic principles for the exegesis of Maimonides if we are to take Maimonides’ own warning in his introduction radically. The code theory, while no doubt it has a certain validity, can be taken to extravagance so that the interpretation of Maimonides becomes a game where you make up your own rules. The whole effort, I feel, fails on the verifiability principle.(4) For over a decade I am waiting breathlessly for your theory of the RaMBaM’s three “14’s” — and again you offer a teaser but no explanation! Unfair!I saw your boys at Yeshiva recently, and if they are doing as well as they look, you have no worries.Warmest regards to your charming wife and daughter, and my hopes that at least one of your gang will be at Morasha this summer.Satmaristically,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL/eg

Dear Professor Lamm: On behalf of the officers and members of the Association for Jewish Studies I congratulate you on your appointment to the presidency of Yeshiva University. We take special pleasure in the great recognition which has come to you and in the assurance that under your leadership Yeshiva University will continue to grow and develop as a rich and diversified center for Judaic scholarship. May your work be blessed with the highest success. Sincerely yours, Marvin Fox President

Dear Norman: The news of your elevation to the presidency of Yeshiva University reached me in Jerusalem on the eve of Tisha B'Av. Though it was not an appropriate day for rejoicing, I could not suppress my delight and pleasure in the knowledge that you have reached a position of supreme importance and that Yeshiva University has chosen the best possible man for its president. If being happy on the Day of Lamentation was a sin, I ask you to impose upon me the appropriate penance. Seriously, there is no way in which I can fully express my pleasure both for you and the institution. With all your friends I rejoice in the recognition which has come to you, even while feeling deeply the burden of responsibility that you have assumed. What matters most is the assurance that one of our most important institutions has been guaranteed many years of effective leadership.June and I wish you every happiness in your new work and the deepest of personal fulfillment. We are almost reluctant to pray for your success since that is so certain that our prayer might fall into the category of tefilat shav. With the learning, high ability, profound dedication and general good sense that you bring to your presidency, we are certain that Yeshiva University is now entering a new and glorious period.With warmest regards to you and Mindy,Yours, as everMarvin FoxProfessor of Jewish Philosophy Chairman