Dear Irving: We owe each other a conversation about the Jerusalem Seminary project, and I hope that we will have that opportunity right after Pesach. Meanwhile, I am pleased at the help you gave to Rabbi Cohen and I know that I have been working hard for him too. Meanwhile, I wonder if I can solicit your assistance on the problem of my Rosh Hodesh Plan, with which you are acquainted. Zevulun Hammer tells me that the more interest I can obtain from prominent American Jews, the more seriously will the Mapai take the whole idea. Personally, I think it will fail on its first attempt, but if we can get enough support behird it, then, when the next big crisis over Shabbat arises, they may dig it up again and use the Rosh Hodesh Plan in one form or another. Hence, my request: can you show this letter, or preferably send a from of this letter by yourself, to people who might be interested? Among the signatories so far are Reiman and Siegel of the Conservatives, Borowitz of the Reform, bellyveld of the American Jewish Congress, Hershel Schacter of the American Conference on Soviet Jewry, and Solomon Sharfman of the Synagogue Council of America, and industrialists such as Max Stem and Jakob Michael• I need many more names and I am very, very anxious to get it done as soon asppossible. Since this is non-political and not in the form of pressure but rather in the form of request, it should be less difficult to obtain the consent of prominent pro-Israel Jews. My warmest regards to your wife and best wishes for a Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Irving: I read, reviewed, and pored over your letter acknowledging receipt of my The Religious Thought of Hasidism. My astonishing conclusion is that you Misnagdim are incorrigible! Even when the Truth stares you in the face, you prefer to look elsewhere and not recognize it. Do you really think that a “gut vort” of contempt for Hasidism is going to cause the world to dismiss this movement which has decisively won the war against its implacable opponents? O, none is so blind as… That having been said, I’m grateful for the idea that the book might be grist for your CD-ROM mill. I told Bernie Sharfstein about it and he said he’d contact you, but I assume he has not yet done so. Whatever, I’m open to any suggestion. When you’ve overcome your ascetic restraints conferred upon you by the Misnagdic genes that were visited upon you by your Litvak ancestors, do give my warmest regards to Ruth. Cordially, Tel: 212/960-5280 – Fax: 212/960-0049.