Dear Rabbi Ruch, Please forgive the delay of my reply to your letter. I waited until now because I had promised you and Rabbi Kossowsky a definite answer concerning the possibility of coming to Johannesburg sometime in February for the Yeshiva. It is with regret that I must inform you that I shall not be able to free myself, much as I would like to be of service. My program here will not permit me to take even one day off until next summer. I have, therefore, taken the liberty of speaking to Rabbi Norman Lamm, who has been invited by the Board of Jewish Education to visit South Africa and who will arrive on February 3rd. As he told me, the gentleman in charge of his arrangements is Mr. Misheiker.If Yeshiva College were to arrange a big city-wide banquet, he would be delighted to be the guest speaker, provided it is cleared with the Board of Jewish Education and fitted into his schedule.Rabbi Lamm is the Associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center. He is the former Editor of *Tradition*. He is a Professor at Yeshiva University. He stands in the forefront of Orthodox rabbinic leadership, not only because he is an excellent speaker and a man of deep thought but also because of his integrity and great leadership qualifications.As you may recall, I warmly recommended to Mr. Yellin to postpone this lecture tour to February so that the South African Jewish community may have the opportunity to meet and hear Rabbi Lamm, who could not possibly free himself during the time initially set by the Board for this purpose.I do hope that Yeshiva College can arrange such a banquet during the period of Rabbi Lamm's visit.ObservatoryJohannesburg,SOUTH AFRICA