Dear Norman, I enjoyed immensely Hedge of Roses and have ordered twenty-five copies for the synagogue. May I suggest that in a second edition you include halachot as well? This would truly fill a great void in American Judaica. I also read with great interest your article in Tradition. I believe that the Sabbath primarily expresses the notion that all of God's creatures have a right to exist independent of man's use of them. Sincerely, Steve Riskin.

Dear Rabbi Riskin: It would have been a great pleasure for Mrs. Lamm and myself to attend the first Inaugural Dinner of the Lincoln Square Synagogue this coming Sunday night. However, unfortunately; the invitation arrived too late for me to be able to make the proper arrangement. Several months ago I already committed myself for a lecture out of town on January 29th.I hope, therefore, that you and Mrs. Riskin, and all your congregation, will forgive our absence and accept our best wishes and warmest regards from afar.As an admiring colleague and neighbor, I wish you God speed in all your marvelous endeavors to build, in our neighborhood, a true "makom kadosh" which will reflect glory on the sacred cause that unites us.Sincerely yours,Rabbi Norman LammRNL/fz

Dear Mr. Soskis: I’m glad we were able to meet, exchange ideas and find out more deeply about NYANA’s work. Based on yesterday’s discussion and our growing work with the increasing number of community-based groups helping Russian Jewish immigrants, I’d like to put down in writing what we perceive to be some of the needs of Russian Jews in New York. A. English. Although it is true that a good number of Russian Jews would rather find a job than learn English when they arrive, NYANA should explain to them that proficiency in English leads to better jobs and that such an opportunity to learn English without having to work at the same time will probably not exist again for them. Private language instruction, cheaper than the public school type, seems much superior (smaller classes, more keyed to need to know technical language) should be made available to all who ask, even to those who have first tried a public school course and found it wanting. (Here you can involve volunteers who are needed to help immigrants practice English once a basic knowledge of the language is acquired. Volunteers don’t know the language well?, both by personal meetings and by three or four in a single phone call. The latter would give an enormous opportunity for a shut-in, older person or one too far away from the Russian family centers such as Brighton Beach, Forest Hills, etc.) B. Jobs. The vocational department of NYANA should be reorganized, with an emphasis on enlisting, publicly, the aid of the Jewish community to help meet the employment needs of Russian Jews. (As a result of the other needs for training, NYANA cannot simply put them in jobs like stock room or factory jobs; professionals, musicians and many, many others cannot find employment unless NYANA Employers can “put in” and help NYANA become a real vocational agency. What is needed is a public announcement through the Federation Employment Service and Jewish Family Service that professional jobs for Russian Jews exist.) C. Hous…

Dear Mr. Stern, the enclosed report is the result of our years’ effort on behalf of the Russian Jewish emigres. To put it in a nutshell, I feel that the Jewish community is not getting one hundred cents for every dollar spent, primarily due to inadequate leadership, planning and understanding. Kindest personal regards, also to Mrs. Stern. Sincerely, Martin Schwarzschild

Dear Ernie: It was really a pleasure to talk with you and I am glad you see that the way NYANA is handling the offices has been outmoded. It is important that we will do a better job and certainly save money by looking for someone able to be in charge of NYANA as soon as possible. I mentioned to you that the person should be religious so that he may understand all types of Jews. Believe me, it was very nice to receive a report from Mr. Schwarzschild in detail, and I know that unfortunately this situation has been the same for a long, long time. For your information, more than 60 Russian children are attending Day Schools. A change must take place as quickly as possible. Please see to it. Sincerely, Max Stern

Dear Steve: Let me thank you for promising to cooperate in paying the salary of a coordinator of volunteers to assist in the resettlement and integration of Russian Jews in New York, by contributing $1,500 over the next four months. I am sure that you appreciate how important this work is. The funds are needed quite urgently, and I would appreciate at least the first installment as soon as possible. You may make out the check to the Jewish Center Charity Foundation, Inc. All my best regards. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Steve: Some time ago you asked me to send you a copy of the “Prayer for the Government” that I recite. The enclosed is my translation of a prayer composed by R. Nobel in Frankfurt. It is much more expressive of a contemporary stance than the old נוסח which is monarchical in flavor. What I do is to recite prayer for America only in English, and the prayer for Israel only in Hebrew. I also enclose an article in my bulletin which describes what I have been doing. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear R’ Norman, I was genuinely thrilled to have heard of your appointment as President of Yeshiva University. Aside from our personal relationship, the President of Y.U. must exemplify the ideal of the institution. I can think of no one who does this better than yourself. I am confident that with Hashem’s help Yeshiva will now enter a new period of consolidation and development.