Dear Effie: I would like to urge you to consider, with somewhat greater urgency, the proposal I made to you several weeks ago, that you arrange for a quality kosher restaurant in our neighborhood. Fundamentally, our community faces two problems in this respect. One is the lack of a really good kosher restaurant in all of Manhattan. Second, in the last couple of years we have lost almost all of our kosher restaurants on the West side. All we have now is the Stern Caterers at the Windemere who are open only for Saturdays, and we do not know how long they are going to continue this operation. There is a possibility that we can solve both problems with one stroke — by establishing this first rate restaurant on the West side. Of course, this will involve a number of problems, such as trying to reconcile quality and appearance with cost. However, I certainly do not propose to go into any minor details at the present time. I do think that the situation that prevails is little short of disgraceful. By our own inaction we are forcing many people, who would otherwise not do so, to patronize establishments whose kashruth is most questionable. Were we able to organize the right kind of establishment in our community, we would not only be providing for a large number of people for whom such a restaurant is a vital need, and not only to helping the cause of kashruth, but we would also contribute to enhancing the reputation of Orthodox Judaism throughout the city and avoiding what might otherwise be a real "chillul ha-Shem." There is no question in my mind but that this kind of restaurant will require an on-going subsidy, but I think it is worth it, and that we have a moral obligation to do something about it. I strongly recommend, Effie, that you undertake this project and give it all your considerable talent and energy to see it through to a successful conclusion. Of course, this is not a one-man project, although it must be sparked by one individual. I know that Larry Kobrin h…

Dear Effie: I am sure that after the Sunday night lecture, you are really a "Free Man." In that case, Effie, you are "free" to pursue the matter I have written to you about several times, namely, the attempt to arrange for appropriate eating facilities for Jews in our neighborhood... Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm