My dear Rabbi Lamm, I take it that you will remember me from our previous correspondence when I wrote expressing my appreciation and admiration of your articles in the Jewish Center Bulletin. I am writing to inform you that I have to be in New York approximately December 25th until January 18th and I shall be staying with my brother-in-law Mr. Max Stern, who is of course well-known to you. I should like to have the opportunity of meeting you personally and I hope that you will be in New York during that period.Looking forward to the pleasure of making your acquaintance,Yours Sincerely,L. RabinowitzChief Rabbi

Dear Rabbi Rabinowitz: It was a pleasure to hear from you and to know that all is well with you. We are looking forward with great expectation to your article on “The Time Lag of Halacha” for the Festschrift in honor of Rabbi Jung. We do hope it will be submitted at the time indicated. As to the confidential information you solicited concerning “P”, all I can do is repeat with greater emphasis the estimation I originally gave you. He is a man of some talent and he makes a very favorable impression, but he is a thoroughly irresponsible person, and I would not say this if I did not feel that he could undo all the work that you have accomplished for the past 20 years. This information is given to you of course on the premise that my name will not ever enter into the picture and that what I am telling you is only for your own information. At the same time may I reiterate my warm recommendation of Rabbi Rabinowitz of South Carolina. You will remember that he was the one I recommended previously. It will be a great victory for all of Judaism if he will win the appointment. With best regards to Mrs. Rabinowitz, sincerely yours, Norman Lamm

My dear Rabbi Lamm, May I congratulate you most sincerely upon the outstanding sermon “Let Criticism be Welcome” which reached me recently together with the Jewish Center Bulletin. In view, however, of the title and subject of the sermon I am taking the liberty of offering a criticism of it and I am sure that you will accept it and be of those who are not only סופרים but also אוהבים את התוכחות. In the second paragraph of page 2 you write – “The freedom to criticise the government is what determines whether the government is a democracy or a dictatorship. The difference between a good democracy and a poor one is the extent to which it encourages and invites dissent and right. No nation, society, or people can live a high moral plane if criticism is discouraged or suppressed. That is why when one of our outstanding citizens is not afraid of treachery he should be considered a national hero.” Surely the words “the United States” would have followed should have been “the Government of the United States.” A more peculiar non sequitur than that which you have given, it would be difficult to find. Surely what is of great national and moral importance is not whether there is criticism of Israel or of America but as you say in your next sentence “of Israel to criticise the government of the State of Israel.” I am writing this to you for two reasons. Firstly because I have very recently come across an American who was ever the possible exception of the late Shmarya Levin, who has ever made such trenchant criticism of Israel and its failings, as a non-Jew. He is now dead, but when I read from time to time of the unconscious acceptance by Americans of Israel I feel that it is because of people like you who have the courage to criticise her government that they feel for you statements that are not correct, who say that for you statements that are correct. Israel might have yourself authorised the criticism of the State of Israel which you has felt yourself compelled to make re…

My Dear Rabbi Rabinowitz: Your manuscript on the problem of American Orthodox relations to the State of Israel finally arrived yesterday and I read it with great care. Needless to say it is extremely well done and clearly points to a major problem in the whole ideological structure of American Orthodoxy. This problem has bothered me considerably, especially after my visit to Israel when I returned from India six months ago. I myself feel caught up In the ambivalence that seems to characterize the whole posture of traditional Judaism in the United States. It is something that cannot be lightly dismissed. I think it requires very deep thought and profound analysis, and I suspect that the underlying motives are of a highly consequential nature. As a matter of fact, I am beginning to doubt whether there will be any "great debate" on this theme in our ranks. I fear that the problem is too deeply psychological in a collective sense to become the basis for a doctrinal dialogue which involves at least two clearly defined points of view.Space does not permit me to elaborate on my preliminary thinking on this subject. I wish we had spent more time together when you were here on your last visit. However, I would like to offer this suggestion: the dilemma, to my mind, is caused in no small way by the modesty of the original Zionist aspirations. Zionism dreamt of a State and now we have it – how after this fullfillment, are we still to entertain Zionism as a worthy goal?I believe that if all of Zionism had been geared to the messianic visions of a Kalischer or Reines, visions which transcended the political and social and were informed by a mystic and eschatological impulse, then Zionism would still be a dynamic reality for committed Jews today. This, of course, is in addition to the sense of frustration and disappointment which American Orthodoxy suffers when contemplating the secularism am of the Non-Orthodox elements in Israel and the refusal of so much of the right wing to …

My dear Rabbi Rabinowitz: I am delighted to learn that you will be visiting in New York from December 25 to January 18. At present I have no plans to be out of town during that time and do hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you and visiting with you during your stay with your sister-in-law and brother-in-law. On behalf of Rabbi Jung and myself I would like to extend to you an invitation to preach from the pulpit of the Jewish Center on Saturday, January 7. It will be an honor and pleasure for our congregation to hear you at that time.With all good wishes,Respectfully,Rabbi Norman Lamm

My Dear Dr. Rabinowitz: I just received this morning from Mrs. Max Stern your letter and the enclosed article you submitted for TRADITION. I do regret that we have not had the opportunity to communicate with each other as much as I would have liked to. Hence, as long as I am writing, let me be a bit elaborate, at least sufficiently to clear up certain misconceptions. You mention that you are in touch with my activities through the press, and hence are aware of my visit to the Cardinal with Rabbi Jakobovits. It seems, unfortunately, that in our mortal and imperfect society the impressions a man makes bear but little resemblance to the actual nature of his activities. The visit you speak of was quite innocuous. I was promised that not a word of it would be breathed to the public. Regretfully, and to my great disappointment it was "leaked" by a source whom I never would have suspected. Both Jakobovits and I were deeply distressed. The visit was magnified beyond all proportions. The report you refer to is, no doubt, the one contained in the Jewish Chronicle in the article by [redacted.] Her report is, to put it mildly false in all its main of truth la the fact of the visit. Everything else that she mentions is a complete and hair raising distortion. what complicates the injustice that she has done is the fact that I personally called her some weeks in advance of the articled appearance to inform her of the actual facts as they occurred. But the lady was so passionately interested in condemning Rabbi Jakobovits for a variety of reasons, all quite emotional, that I do not believe she paid attention to what I told her. fey I assure you, therefore, that the report was pernicious, and a conscious distortion and fabrication. I had considered writing to the Chronicle (I had even originally thought of action in the courts against Leo Pfeffer, the first source of these mendacities), but I thought the better of it. Experience has taught that the more you deny, the more the origi…

Dear Rabbi Rabinowitz: I have not heard from you in quite a while, and hope that all is well with you and your family. I thought you might be interested in knowing that I have been invited by the South African Board of Jewish Education to visit the country this coming February, please God. I hope to leave for Johannesburg on February 1st, and return February 25th or 26th. This is one time I truly regret that you are not in your old post of Chief Rabbi of South Africa. It would have been a pleasure to spend three weeks together with you. Meanwhile, if there is anything of a special nature you think I ought to know, would you be good enough, if time permits, to drop me a note and let me know so that I may guide myself accordingly. With all best wishes to Mrs. Rabinowitz and warmest personal regards to all our mutual friends, Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm.

My dear Rabbi Lamm, It was good to hear from you, and I am pleased to tell you that all is well with us. I knew from the South African Jewish Press that you had accepted an invitation to visit the country on behalf of the S.A. Board of Jewish Education, and I was delighted at the information. But let me say that if you regret that I am not in my old post, I regret much more that you are not there in that post! I think that after your visit you will agree with me that it was “no mean Rabbinate.” With regard to any information which I may be able to give you, I do so on the distinct understanding and condition that what I write is strictly confidential between two colleagues, and under no circumstances may it be divulged. I know that I can rely upon you in that regard. There are only two matters which I think you ought to know, the one belonging to the Educational sphere, the other to the Communal-Religious. The Director of the Board of Education is a dedicated individual. His enthusiasm, sincerity and probity are beyond question. However, from our point of view his views may be considered somewhat heterodox. If I could classify him I would put him into the Zechariah Frankel class. Not quite Conservative. This is reflected in the atmosphere of the Schools, the outstandingly fine Jewish Day Schools. Torah and Mitzvoth, though not played in their context to be relegated to Keren Kayemeth emotion play little part. As a result of his views, not less than his academic qualifications, I predict with continually remarkable suggestion by an underling of his that it may create distress shortly after my departure if this individual is conferred a formal Semicha, though not as it would add to the prestige of his office. To my great distress, shortly after my departure the employee was granted the title “Rabbi” upon the employer. I must say that I am down in my estimation as a result. He has never revealed the source of his “Semicha” but merely began to assume the title and the…

My dear Lamm, I knew that I would not have to appeal to you in vain, though the result is not entirely satisfactory. Simultaneously with writing to you I sent a last desperate appeal to Wurzburger. I received a letter from him full of apologies, and that he had instructed them to send me both the journal and a check for the article (which I had not mentioned). This week a copy of the journal arrived by Air Mail without any accompanying letter of explanation, or reference to my request for offprints — or check! I still therefore do not know where I stand with regard to the offprints. If I was absolutely sure that I am not getting them, I would involve myself in the not inconsiderable expense of having it reproduced here, but naturally I do not want to involve myself in this expenditure if it can be avoided. Could you please ascertain if there is any chance of my getting them?By a peculiar coincidence, on the same day as I receive your letter wishing me "good luck" with regard to England, there appeared No. 898 of *Panim el Panim* (22/10/65), and in the "gossip column", "Al Tufta Im" appeared an item to the effect that the leaders of the United Synagogue have decided to offer you the position. It ties up with a statement in *Haboker* from their London correspondent that they will definitely turn to the U.S.A. I know that this can only be kite flying since the first meeting, at which only preliminary steps will be taken, takes place only tomorrowNevertheless I want to express my considered opinion to you that you would be an ideal choice, and that should the approach be made to you, to give it your favourable consideration. I want to be quite frank with you, on the basis of the very real and valued friendship and esteem which exists between us. I regard my chances as minimal. Wolfson has been here for a fortnight and returns to London today and has made no effort whatsoever to contact me, despite the fact that he was pressed to by my friends before he left England. Wh…

My dear Rabbi Lamm, I hope this letter finds you well. Knowing how busy you are, I am hesitant to approach on the subject which follows, but I have an idea, which I hope is correct, that you would welcome this assignment. I am enclosing herewith an article by Dr. D. Sperber on Gentiles in the Talmud, and I think you will agree that it is a competent article. On the other hand, it restricts itself severely, as he was requested to do, to the Talmudic aspect. Would you agree, taking the existence of this article into consideration, to write a more comprehensive additional article on the general Jewish attitude towards Gentiles as a whole. If you agree, which I earnestly hope you will, we would like an article of up to 2,000 words. Should you unfortunately find yourself unable to do so, can you immediately by return recommend someone who can do it. In fact, to save time, I would rely on your judgement and request you to ask someone else to do the article. With grateful thanks in anticipation, and kindest personal regards, Yours sincerely, Dr. L. I. Rabinowitz