My dear Dr. Belkin, I have just returned from the Torah Leadership Seminar, held at the Lake House in Woodridge, N. Y. This has given me an opportunity not only to participate, but to observe at first hand the sort of work that is being done by Yeshiva University through its Youth Bureau. I thought you might be interested in some of the observations of one of your "Talmidim". I can only say that it is a pity that such projects were not instituted many years ago. I have already heard from some of the parents of the Springfield children who accompanied me some heart-warming reports about the effect the conclave had upon them. It was a most inspiring experience to notice the deep thirst for Torah and the deep desire for Traditional Judaism that these children evinced.Yoohiva io now taping an *laost unitsitod resource of npower that exists in our country.ut all of thio w uld bo possible if not for the superb direction and highly competent professional guid nee of Abmhan *tern. is talent, his devotion, and his ability to develop eonnetent subordinate•, certainly deserve to bo acknowledged in gratitude by Yeah va cam like synelf, who benefited so ׳uch fioe hin wort• know th t you will oprooUto hearing this kind of re ort about the professional wployoes of Yeshivaonly serves to underscore another feeling th t I have had, that I would now like to orient to you. An th t is, thg crying neor a full time , one which would bo njy orting ith the hope that this suggestion will nerit your ooneidemtloI remainMost respectfully yoursRabbi Kainan Umm

Dear Rabbi Lamm: Al Kleiman has informed me that you would like to know my full position on the Yeshiva campus in relation to the Riverside-Amsterdam project. I am taking the liberty of enclosing herewith photostatic copies of my letters to Mr. Mollen and Dr. Belkin which I hope will clarify this matter. If you wish any further information, I will be pleased to discuss it with you. Cordially yours, Bentley Kassal./Dear Dr. Belkin: It has been called to my attention that my views pertaining to the proposed Riverside-Amsterdam project and the inclusion of Yeshiva University campus in that area may not have been fully understood. I have sent the annexed letter to Chairman Milton Mollen in order to set forth a clarification of my position.If you wish any further clarification as to the above, I shall be pleased to discuss the same with you.Sincerely yours,Bentley Kassal BK\:ejaEnclosure---**BENTLEY KASSAL296 Madison AvenueNew York 17, N.Y.Murray Hill 6-5633****THE ASSEMBLYSTATE OF NEW YORKALBANY****July 11, 1962**Mr. Milton MollenChairmanHousing and Redevelopment Board2 Lafayette StreetNew York 7, N.Y.Dear Mr. Mollen:I am writing this letter in order to fully set forth my views pertaining to the proposed Riverside-Amsterdam project which is located in the 5th Assembly District.I strongly support the necessity for immediate planning for the redevelopment and rehabilitation of the Riverside-Amsterdam Area.The redeveloped and rehabilitated area should be expanded to cover the region running from Central Park West to Riverside Drive.Priority should be given to housing consisting of middle-income and low-income residential units, in a proper ratio and in an amount adequate to serve the needs of the dislocated tenants.Wherever possible, skewed low-income rental units should be added in the middle-income housing.Consistent with the above, I favor and encourage the inclusion of Yeshiva University campus in this area. This campus will not only serve as an additional cultural in…

Dear Mendy: I have not answered your recent form letter concerning a delegation from The Jewish Center at the dedication exercises at the new building, because our president, Mr. Max Stern, is still in the hospital. Although we all know how closely The Jewish Center feels towards the Yeshiva, neither Rabbi Jung nor I feel it is proper to signify an official commitment without Mr. Stern's consent and approval. Best wishes for a "Shanah Tovah," Sincerely,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:ff

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

Dear Rabbi Wein: I spoke to Rabbi Weinbach of Yeshiva University who explained to me why it is not possible to accept [redacted] in the twelfth grade. It is almost inevitable the New York State requirements differ from these in Florida and [redacted] would probably have to make up several courses. In addition, he would have to take the full four year complement of regents examinations in all fields. Obviously, it would be impossible for him to graduate in one year, and it would be unfair to the boy to expose him to this kind of schedule.I sincerely hope that you will be successful in prevailing upon him to come to Yeshiva College the year following.Warmest personal regards,,Cordially yours,Rabbi Norman LammNL/le

Dear Mr. Stern: Now that Armand is married, I feel free in reminding you of something which we have discussed several weeks ago. When I was in St. Louis, I met the family of [redacted], a marvelous young girl, who is very anxious to attend Stern College. You said you would call Dean Vogel and/or Dr. Mirsky about her. Since she has not yet heard from the school, it would be deeply appreciated by the family were you to remind them about it.Cordially yours,Rabbi Norman LammNL/le

Dear Moe: In response to your request concerning the Japanese professor, I can speak only of what I have heard and read. Apparently, he was quite heroic during the war in helping the Jews, and his conversion to Judaism is genuine and authentic. I read his book recounting his experiences, and it is in many ways unusual and also naive. It appears he does not really know the difference between Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, but his heart is in the right place. I do not know how much strength he can add to the Orthodox community, but I would seriously begrudge the benefits that would accrue to the other camps were they to have the foresight to employ him in their institution.It might, come to think of it, be a splendid idea to have him initiate a Far-Eastern Department at Yeshiva University. This might include not only Japanese and Chinese language and literature but also the study of ancient Jewish community in Asia Including the Bene Israel of India.You looked very tired when I saw you at the wedding of Max Stern’s son. I hope that you and Shirley are feeling well, and will have a pleasant summer. Mindy and I would love to see the two of you in Camp Morasha this summer again.Cordially yours,Rabbi Norman LammNL/le

ידידי יקירי ר' נחום הי"ו, תודה לך על מכתבך מב' דחנוכה, ומשנה-תודה על תוכנו. אתה מבקש ממני להודיעך מה אני "חושב להסדר מתאים והגון," והאמת היא שמרחוק איני יודע לומר בכך דברים ברורים. מה שברור לי הוא, שאני צריך לפרנס את משפחתי במשך השנתיים הללו – נאמר בצמצום – ואינני יודע כמה צריכים בשביל זה עכשיו. יש סיכויים כי אוכל למצוא אפשרות להשלים את החסר ממקור אחר. מכל מקום, הייתי רוצה להציע, אם אפשרי הדבר, כי ההזמנה של ד"ר בלקין תאושר בינתיים באופן עקרוני, ועליך אני סומך כי תשתדל שתהיה לפי המאקסימום שאפשר לבקש ולקבל בעד עבודה של מרצה לספרות במכללה (לא של שעה-שעתיים לצאת לידי חובה, כמו שהרציתי בסמסטר אחד של קיץ לפני שנים אחדות וקיבלתי בעד כל העבודה סכום מועט).אם ההזמנה תאושר באופן ברור, יש אפשרות מסוימת כי אבוא לארה"ב לביקור של כמה שבועות במארטש–אפריל הבעל"ט, ואז נוכל לסכם את העניין סופית.הודיעני נא אם הדבר נראה לך, ואם איני עלול לאחר כלום אם נדחה את הסידור הסופי לאביב.בד"ש לב"ב יושבי עליך ולב"ב שיחי' ולכל הנלווים,שלך,

כבוד רבינו הגאון שליט״א, Before leaving New York I met with Rabbi Rackman who called me at your suggestion and discussed with him more details of my work at Yeshiva next year. He told me that within a few days I would receive from you the official and detailed letter of appointment. However, so far I have not yet received it. In a letter to Rabbi Rackman further to our meeting, I suggested the outline of several courses in Hebrew Literature which I am prepared to give. This list is in no way conclusive and I am awaiting to hear the suggestions of the Deans of the respective Colleges as to the nature and specifications of the courses. The earlier this information gets me, the more time I will have to work on preparing them properly.One of the courses which I suggested deals with the works of Nobel Laureate S.Y. Agnon and it is in this connection I would like to make a suggestion.As you probably know, Agnon is expected to visit the United States in May as Guest of Honor of the American Friends of the Hebrew University. He is, as you know, a remarkable Talmid Chacham as well as an observant Jew. You may be interested in receiving him at Yeshiva while on his visit to the States. As Agnon is a close friend of mine if there is anything I can do in this respect I whould like to of help if possible.In my letter to Dr. Rackman just before leaving the U.S., I asked him to convey to you my sincere thanks. I would like to express them once more.Looking forward to a fruitful and mutually beneficial association with Yeshiva, I am,Yours truly,Pinchas H. Peliנ"בלשם הקלה על עבודת המשרד כתבתי המכתב באנגלית ועם מע״כ הסליחה.

Dear Dr. Siev, This letter will serve to summarize my suggestions to you concerning the forthcoming Golden Anniversary of Yeshiva College. Please forgive the disconnected and unorganized form of my ideas. They are given in no special order. I believe that the festivities should not last more than a day or a weekend, should be concentrated, and by all means should strive for high academic excellence (non-pedantic, of course) rather than for the stereotype of the Alumni-Homecoming species. I feel that this event cam become more than a celebration, and that it can fill a real void in the life of the Yeshiva. We – that is, Yeshiva University – are the major institution of what is known, for better or for worse, as "Modern Orthodox Judaism". As the academic center of Modern Orthodoxy, it is our responsibility to articulate clearly and convincingly what we are, what we believe, what we have to contribute, wherein we differ from others and wherein we do not. For about half a century now, successive generations of Yeshiva students have indulged in the luxury of ridiculing the concept of Synthesis. I suppose that this is a combination of adolescent ques-tioning and rebellion, authentic criticism, and typically Jewish, and especially Orthodox, collective masochism (otherwise known as "bittul"). Yet the fact remains that this lofty ideal, to which we refer by that unfortunately pedestrian word ״Synthesis", is our raison d'etre. From time to time, some of us have ventured to 118-cuss it in intellectually respectable form. But it has not yet been attempted in a systematic manner.I feel that this forthcoming anniversary 18 the appropriate opportunity to fill this lacunae. If this 18 done well, as I certainly hope it will be, then it should be published in one volume. This book will serve as the only available source for the Ideology of Modern Ortho־ doxy and as an academically proper textbook far Freshman orientation at Y.U.-2-Following are some of the individual lecture themes …