Dear Rabbi Blau, At the end of January 1964, a book will be published by the Sura Institute of Yeshiva University which I think is of the utmost importance and should be read by every member of Yavneh across the country. The name of the book is “The Indivisible Isaiah: Evidence for the Single Authorship of this Prophetic Book” by Rachel Margalioth of Jerusalem, presently in New York. This 245-page volume is a translation and extensive revision of the Hebrew Shad Hayah Yeshayahu, which argues scientifically and consistently for the thesis that all the book of Isaiah was written by one author, and that there was only one Prophet Isaiah. The author is a distinguished biblical scholar who is in all ways loyal to the teachings and traditions of Torah. You can well appreciate that her work, which goes against the whole dogmatic trend of higher biblical criticism, is one which ought to be read and studied and pondered by every member of Yavneh as well as every thinking Orthodox Jew. Her arguments are forceful, novel, and in accordance with the Jewish scholarly methodology. I cannot urge you strongly enough to circularize this information to all members of Yavneh and encourage them to purchase the book and study it. The list price of the volume will be $4.75. However, I prevailed upon Mrs. Margalioth to make it available to Yavneh students for only $2.75 (less than the regular student discount). Please do give this your attention and try to circularize this to Yavneh as soon as is feasible. All orders should be sent to the author directly at 250 West 99th Street. Please let me hear from you on this matter. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

Dear [redacted]: I feel rather guilty for writing this letter – that is, not for writing it but for writing it so late – and I hope you will be forgiving. It occurred to me that you might not be completely aware of the strong moral support you have in the agony to which you are being subjected by the wild men surrounding you. Sometimes it is necessary to express the obvious, if only because someone in the thick of battle may not realize that he has friends – many of them and loyal ones.Let me tell you, therefore, not only on my own behalf, but also on behalf of many, many others, that we are genuinely sorry for the anguish that has been caused to you and your family, and that, even more, we admire you enormously for your spirit, your perseverance, and your plain American guts.I wish I knew how I could be of help to you. I had been toying with the idea of drawing up some kind of petition, having it signed by like-minded people, and publicizing it. But I don’t know how much good it would do you in the face of charges that you are a stooge of sinister circles in the United States who are trying to get Yeshiva University into Jerusalem through the back door. Whatever I can do for you, I certainly am anxious to, and await word from you. But whether or not there is any active assistance you desire, I do want you to know that we are with you – בלב ונפש.Mindy joins me in warmest regards to you and your wife.Cordially yours,Rabbi Norman LammNL/egbc: Max SternRabbi Irving Greenberg

Dear Yitz, First of all, let me wish your family and you a Kosher Pesach together with our hope that all the good wishes and expectations of the Haggadah will be fulfilled for all Jews soon. Then, as I am preparing for another meeting of the Mixed Marriage Committee, let me thank you and your colleagues once again for that most stimulating and enriching session in New York, which left a deep impression on all of us. The Committee has asked me to request of you, if at all possible, to ask two or three of you to write brief statements which we might include in a packet of material to be sent to the members of the Central Conference before our Annual Meeting in June. I would need this material not later than April 20. Please let me know whether I can count on something from you and one or two others. Lotte joins me in sending your family and you our best wishes. Shalom, Herman E. Schaalman, Rabbi

Dear Yitz, I am pleased to enclose a check for $360, the fee for your splendid talk that last Sunday night. You were, as I stated publicly, exceedingly stimulating. There is much, very much, that I have to add to what I said publicly about the substantive points of your position. However, I suppose that will have to wait for another occasion. Mindy joins me in affectionate regards to Blu. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Norman: I write now to ask you to hold the dates of February 11–12 for a most important intimate meeting in Washington, D.C. You are one of 10 persons to whom I have written. I have spoken with some of you personally about this. I will be calling each of you. Now, however, I only want to alert you to the date and describe briefly what it is all about. As a result of some long and detailed conversations and plans which I have been having with a few key persons on the executive staff of the United Presbyterian Church of the United States, we have finally agreed to hold an intensive, intimate conversation on Middle East questions in Washington, D.C., beginning 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 11 and going through luncheon the following day. They are inviting 10 of their top people, executive and lay, and I am doing the same from the American Jewish religious community. There will only be 20 persons at the sessions. Included is their list of invitees. Three basic topics will be on the table: The Third World perceptions of Israel as an imperialist nation now creeping into the thinking of some elements of the religious community; The Palestinians; Framing a religious response to the Middle East. Each of these agenda items is now being drawn up in a more detailed fashion and will soon be sent to you for your further consideration. I mention them now, however, so you will see the general areas of our conversations. Some of you have seen their preliminary study document: “Peoples and Conflict in the Middle East.” Some of us were asked to comment on it in its initial draft form. Since then, it has been circulated throughout the church community and is now being evaluated and possibly revised. Moreover, leadership in the Presbyterian church is anxious to meet for in-depth conversations with a few of their counterparts in the Jewish religious community. We are pleased to be able to help bring this meeting about, though unfortunately we have no funds to even defray your expens…

Dear Norman, I heard this morning of your election as President of Yeshiva University. I want to take this opportunity to wish you Mazel Tov and much achievement and success. There are only a few positions in Jewish life which carry with them the opportunity to make a historic contribution. This is one of them. I know that you have a real sense of the scope of Yeshiva and the time we are living in and I pray, with God’s help, you will make a real contribution. It is no secret that I feel Orthodoxy’s trend in recent years has tended to restrict its influence and contribution to Klal Yisrael. However, this letter is not meant to push my agenda. Rather it is to offer you best wishes and whatever help I can give and to express the hope that with your leadership, Yeshiva and Orthodoxy will set a model and be a bulwark of strength to all Jews. May the merit of your kindness and help to Willy Frank and his family be one of the many good deeds which stand by you and bring blessing and fruitfulness to your work. Sincerely, Irving Greenberg

Dear Norman: During the year I am rushed and cannot get into much reading in a substantial way beyond immediate preparation for classes and writings, but in August and September I get my chance to catch up on back reading. This summer I brought along two of your writings, “Some Comments on Centrist Orthodoxy” and “The Face of God: Thoughts on the Holocaust.” This is a belated fan letter. It was a pleasure to read both pieces. Personally I always worry that administration and organization will erode my scholarship and intellectual vitality; it was a pleasure to see that your own thinking continues to mature and deepen despite the burdens of your office. The effort must be great but it is surely worthwhile. The Centrist article is an important articulation at a time when ideological awareness and self-confidence are at a low ebb in the community. Your three principles of synthesis, moderation, and the centrality of the people of Israel are right on. It was especially important for you to say that the “changes” Centrist Orthodoxy has introduced result “not in the diminution of Torah but in its expansion. Some changes are, indeed, for the good. And such positive and welcome changes were introduced at many a critical juncture in Jewish history.” Aside from the truthfulness of these statements, they are courageous—coming at a time when everybody is leaning over backwards to avoid criticism. Your list of unprecedented challenges to our whole way of life and thinking was also courageous, correct, and central to the agenda of the entire Jewish people, not just Modern Orthodoxy. Your interpretation of “the Way of the Lord” was outstanding, and equally significant was the humor and charm of your satire on how our contemporaries might respond to Abraham’s plea for Sodom and Gomorrah. Finally, I was most touched by the integrity of your analysis of the tension between love of Israel and love of Torah. Everybody likes to affirm both loves promiscuously and without cost, but the …