My dear Rabbi Lamm: I am sending you herewith a cheque for $200 as a fee which I promised you for the instruction that you gave to Haskel over the summer. I know how you feel about accepting this fee, but I want you to know how I feel about sending it to you. I would like to make it three times the amount, and even then it would not be adequate compensation for what you have done to and with Haskel. If it meant nothing else but that he came under your Influence for eight weeks, that in itself would have been enough. If, in addition, he has received such expert instruction at your hands and if it en-abled him, as indeed it did, to decide upon his life work, then you can well imagine how grateful I am for the share you have had in all of that. Accept this not in the spirit of a fee but rather in the spirit of a gift given to one for whom I have genuine affection and for whose future welfare I have deep interest.A happy holiday to you and to your family.Very cordially yours.Joseph H. Lookstein

My dear Lamm: I am enclosing a copy of my letter to your President. You may be sure that I shall try my best to spend the evening with you. Thanks for your note of explanation of the "politics." It is important that I know it because it will undoubtedly colour what I hope to say. My best to your wife and regards from all. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein

My dear Norman: Thank you very much for sending me the address that you delivered before your Sisterhood, entitled "Separate Pews – A Mark of Jewish Dignity." I read it with a great deal of interest, and so did Haskel. I want to compliment you on a beautiful presentation on a forthright and courageous statement and on a scholarly treatment of the subject. In spite of the apparent scholarship, you nevertheless managed to make it sufficiently popular, so that a group of average lay people could understand it. It is one of the finest statements on the subject that I have read. Congratulations.Very cordially yours,Joseph H. Lookstein

My dear Norman: Upon my return to New York, I learned that you have made a change in your rabbinic venue. Without any big words, I learned that you were going to be a neighbor of ours and that you would be the Associate Rabbi of the Jewish Center. I am sorry that there was no chance for us to discuss your decision before you made it. Having made it, I am confident that it is a good one, and I pray that it proves a successful one. My best wishes to you and to your dear wife, not alone for the New Year but for a satisfying and glorious ministry in the Metropolitan city. I need not tell you that I am ready to help along with word and deed whenever you see fit to call on me. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein

My dear Norman: Thank you very much for your lovely note. I wish I could answer it in Hebrew, but my dictaphone doesn’t understand the language. Of late I have had to resort to a dictaphone. That’s how heavy correspondence has been. I am glad that you found the article interesting. As a matter of fact, I am now translating it into English, and it will be ready very soon. Maybe, you have some idea as to how it can receive the prominence that I would like it to receive, not for my own honor but for the sake of the University.Thank you also for the lovely "good word" that you conveyed in your letter. It certainly fits the subject that I discussed.I want to thank you for sending me the "Spring Piyyutim" published by the Center. I envy you that your congregation did it. I had it in mind for a long time. As a matter of fact, not only these "Piyyutim", but "Selichoth" and other supplementary prayers really beg for proper publication, proper translation, and proper rendition. Maybe, one of these days something will be done about it.Thanks again.Very cordially yours,Joseph H. LooksteinJHL:js

My dear Norman: I am sending you herewith a page out of the Jewish Center bulletin, which was handed to me by one of my congregants. In it, under the item "Manhattan Hebrew High School," the article speaks of the Jewish Center as being "the major sponsor" of the enterprise. That, as you know, is not correct. The school is sponsored jointly by several congregations. There are no major, and no minor sponsors.In it, too, you are listed as the Director of the School. That, too, is not so. Even if it were so, then between you and me, that is not the kind of distinction that I would like to confer upon you. You certainly are worth infinitely more than that.I am enclosing also a copy of a page from the Manhattan Hebrew High School bulletin, which lists the names of the officers, and your own name, in the various capacities that these people serve. May I suggest to you that as a matter of good will and peace in the family, you instruct the editor of the bulletin to be careful about how he treats the subject of the Manhattan Hebrew High School. You know there are always sort of local personal jealousies which are expressed to me by some of the people involved. I think that it will serve the interests of all if we are careful about it.Thank you for your attention, and forgive me for bringing such a petty matter to you. A very happy and kosher Passover to you.Very cordially yours,Joseph H. LooksteinJHL:jsEnclosuresManhattan Hebrew High SchoolThe M.H.H.S., which meets in our Center, and of which we are the major sponsor, has been making superb progress this year, exceeding our fondest expectations. Rabbi Norman Lamm is Director of the school, and Center member, Rabbi Israel Silverstein is Chairman of the Executive Board.A P.T.A. was recently formed, and their first project – a family Purim Seudah – was an encouragingly successful one. Further projects are being planned.On Sunday, March 20, the oldest of the four classes was examined by Rabbi Lamm and their teacher, Mr. Y. Isse…

Dear Rabbi Lookstein: It has been brought to my attention that very often the time that we give in our respective bulletins for the end of the Sabbath varies from one synagogue to another. We can appreciate, of course, that laymen sometimes wonder which is really correct and, naturally, prefer the earlier time. May I suggest, therefore, that all of us in the midtown area follow one system. That could be either the schedule published by the Vaad Harabonim, or that proposed by Mr. Edgar Frank. Please let me know your thoughts about the matter so that we can have this accomplished even in time for the rest of the season. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Lookstein: I really and truly appreciate the time and effort you take to concern yourself with my recent entanglement. I therefore thank you very much for your letter of December 27th and the clipping from The Jewish Chronicle. As a matter of fact, I had already seen this clipping from our friend [redacted]. Your suggestion, "read it and smile," is accepted by me with gratitude. Perhaps when you read the enclosed photocopy of an article by Leo Pfeffer in the recent *Midstream* you will think I ought to howl uncontrollably...As I told you when we met at the wedding, I would like to tell you the whole story and perhaps you will appreciate how a project conceived in good will and executed in what was supposed to be the greatest confidence has been betrayed and maligned in a manner so grotesque as to make the whole thing seem a trifle surrealistic — as if I were living in a world created by a Kafka.At any rate, with regard to the article by \[name omitted], she has far surpassed the malice of which I thought she was capable. The fact is that some three weeks ago I called her and informed her of the real facts in the situation. This means, quite clearly, that she is not only not interested in the truth, but is actively engaged in creating vicious falsehoods in a manner consistent with the feline of the species. But, as you say, "read it and smile." In the future I suspect it will have to be an either-or choice: either read or smile...I am still awaiting that long-promised talk with you which will be, of course, at your convenience.Fondest regards to Mrs. Lookstein.Very cordially yours,NL\:ffRABBI NORMAN LAMMEncl---**Midstream***A Quarterly Jewish Review*December 1962Articles:* HERBERT WEINER – The Case for the Timorous Jew: Reflections on Church and State in America* LEO PFEFFER – Counterreflections on Church and State* SH. YIN'AM – Nehru — Portrait of a Neutralist* NISSIM REJWAN – Israel's Arab Citizens* HENRY KATZEW – Jews in the Land of Apartheid* RONALD S…

My dear Norman: I received your letter of March 15th, and I agree with you that another meeting is very important. Believe me that I would love to come, not only because of the importance of the project but out of friendship and regard for Rabbi Kasher. Unfortunately, I have a Ramaz Parents’ meeting that night, and at this time of the year it is impossible for me to be away. With regard to the project itself, Rabbi Kasher knows that I consider it of great importance. However, I have lately been troubled by the multiplicity of projects of this nature. Mossad Harav Kook has such a project in operation. The World Academy, whose name I heard is about to be changed, has such a project. Rabbi Hutner has such a project. Now we will be adding yet another one. Is it not possible for us to bring together a number of these people and do one overall job, so that there would be a centralized institute to train and direct young and promising scholars? I wish I could say more, but I hesitate because I do not want to hurt any enterprise of this nature. I know that any kind of negative criticism may interfere with the success of such an undertaking. Yet I cannot help feeling the way I do. If there is a possibility, I will try to come to the meeting, if only for a short time. Warmest personal regards. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein

Dear Rabbi Jakobovits: The enclosed letter from Rabbi Lookstein to me will explain the situation with regard to his supposed commitment to obtain fellowships for Rabbi Kasher’s project. I suggest you inform Rabbi Kasher personally, at the meeting, of Rabbi Lookstein’s clarification. Please be kind enough not to show the letter itself to anyone, but to return it to me after you have read it. Sincerely, Rabbi Norman Lamm