Dear Irving and Bernice: Mindella and I were delighted to receive the Invitation to the Bar Mitzvah of your son Elias. Regretfully, as you can well understand, we shall not be able to attend the Bar Mitzvah personally. But at the same time we will be there in spirit with you. I have always felt saddened by the fact that we are half a continent apart and that I would have liked the opportunity to get to know you better. I feel even worse that we cannot join you with our physical presence at the time of your "simcha." However, we do rejoice in your happiness, and we want to wish the both of you many, many years of undiminished "nachas" and pride as your son grows up into Jewish manhood and becomes a source of pride to his parents and family and people, and achieves gadlut in Torah and wisdom. Our congratulations and our warmest wishes. Sincerely yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM