Dear Senator Orhenstein: I tried calling you today, but you were busy and I had to leave; hence this letter. It has come to my attention that the Senate Committee on Mental Hygiene, of which you are Chairman, is holding a public hearing on Narcotics in New York State this Saturday, April 24th. I had been under the impression, and still am, that, out of deference to the religious sensitivities of the citizens of the state, public hearings are not held on major religious holidays. Reference to any Jewish calendar will reveal the fact that Saturday, April 24th, is the eighth and last day of Passover, and is hence a major festival for Judaism.I am sure that this must have been an oversight on your part in scheduling the hearing for that date. I do hope that all public hearings scheduled for the future will be so arranged as not to conflict with major festivals of any of the major faiths.If I can be of any assistance in clearing such matters, I will be glad to offer my services.Sincerely yours,NLirfRABBI NORMAN LAMM

Dear Rabbi Lamm: This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter with regard to the recent hearings held by the Senate Committee on Mental Hygiene. I'm extremely sorry that these hearings were held in conflict with the end of the Passover Holidays. We had originally planned to hold them on a weekday. However, due to the abnormal length of the Legislative Session, a Saturday had to be selected. I assure you that at the time the date of April 24 was chosen, we had overlooked that this was the end of the Passover Holidays. Certainly, if we had been cognizant of the fact, we would have chosen another date.Thank you again for writing us and calling this to our attention.Sincerely,

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Chodesh Tov! How are you? I hope all is well and that your Pesach was beautiful. Mine was, baruch Hashem, filled with family, divrei Torah, and rejuvenation, and it was definitely enhanced with the Torah from your new Haggadah. I shared your words with my family at the Seder and especially appreciated the parts about rechush gadol and the beautifully nuanced parallel sections of the four sons and the four fathers. I also loved the psychological insights and the deep understanding of the individual that you expressed, and I am always excited by your alliteration. School is winding down for the semester but not before I write papers for Iyov, Tehillim, and “Science and Religion,” all classes taught by master teachers and all scintillating and challenging. This semester, like all of my Stern experience, has been a great gift academically, socially, and personally. As you know, at ten weeks post-interview I am still quite eagerly waiting to hear from Einstein. I hope positive news will come bimheira! Just wanted to let you know what I’m up to. I hope to see you soon! Shabbat Shalom! Love, [redacted]

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Greetings. After a break of about 6 months I thought it was time to renew our correspondence. Trust you and your family are well and that you have has an enjoyable פסח. Life in Carmel remains hectic but a constant challenge. One day I'll discuss the strange paradoxes of Carmel, but suffice it to say that it is possible and rewarding to מברר ניצוצית here... I enclose a שיחה on פסח which I think you will enjoy – it gives an unusual mystical twist to question of the חכם – the need for a התישבות בכלים and the primacy of ordered living.Also enclosed an ניגון to add to your collection. It's one of my old favourites and have used it recently as a fairly successful lullaby for Shoshana!!How is your book on חסידות getting on?Looking forward to hearing from you.חג כשר שמח!מיכאל ת'This is a central theme in חב"ד – how do you understand it? Also, I write to L. Jacobs on another idea I have come across in the literature quite frequently. The Alte Rebbe often speaks about the superiority of man over the angels by virtue of his potential of transforming the mundane world. To perform this task his neshama derives from a higher source – not "manly" from דיבור but מחשבה – The phrase used is תניא is הבן נמשך ממוח האב. I asked L. Jacobs about the meaning of this idea from within the literature – whether symbolic or an actual fact that the is derived from the brain (physical) of man. He wrote back and sent that it was quite common until modern times to assume the latter to be true. Again, any further comments?Lastly an interesting observation of the previous Rebbe on the ethics of American Society and how it differed from the values that permeated the former days in E. Europe".. דער רבי האט גענאגט אן א שיחה אז ען אמריקע איז פרראן א מחלה וואס ד' מחלה הויסט מען מעז .... איז פאראן א מאמר פון חסידים פונקט להיפך:וואס מי טאר זיט – טאר מען ניטוואס מען מעז – דארץ מען ניט