Dear Rabbi Lamm, I met with Dr. Burg on Erev Shabbat concerning your letter to Golda Meir. In between his various jokes and stories, I managed to learn that a committee composed of members of just about every party has been formed to oversee the Shapiro project. Burg, therefore, called the project "non-political." However, in subsequent meetings with the Ministry's spokesman Yaakov Agassi (Shapiro’s ex-otzar) and a few other insiders I was able to piece together the following. The "committee" is a collection of names but in actual practice it is a Mafdal directed affair. The Shapiro project, it seems, will after all be Gush Ezion, but not the kibbutz Kfar Ezion but the Mercaz Aizori (the hill on which the Yeshiva stands—where you slept the night you attended seminar). They plan to develop that hill—or Yad Shapiro as it is slated to be called—into a large educational center to the tune of IL10 million. The Rothschilds are throwing in the lion’s share (here's where Kav Amital got his money), the government will give another large chunk and private donations will complete it.Now \_\_\_ has been informed that if he agrees to move his Bet Sefer Sadeh and proposed Medrashiat Har Chevron to the Mercaz Aizori he can share in the kitty, however, \_\_\_ has stubbornly refused. He is interested in Kfar Ezion and that's it. Despite the many logical reasons other than financial presented to dissuade him (e.g. a kibbutz is a community and not the place where you want groups of visiting kids floating around all day), he has stubbornly refused.Agassi and Moskovitz of Misrad Hapnim have told me frankly that if we can convince \_\_\_ to make the move and join him in his Medrashiat Har Chevron there can be quite a bit of money for Gesher in the deal. However, I know well and he will not budge. No amount of money will lure him from furthering the development of his precious Kfar Ezion in the direction that he wants.And so this is the situation. Naturally, I will have a long talk with …

Dear Bernard: Since I have just returned from three months in Israel, let this letter serve as my שלום עליכם to you and to Rabbi Klavan as well. Please read it carefully, for I shall be very brief, though you may call on me for further details. During my stay, the unhappy Ashkelon affair arose, which led me to think about how to protect the integrity of Shabbat while also being considerate of the non-observant Jew who, working six days a week, feels hemmed in by its restrictions. I devised an idea, shared it with Zevulun Hammer, leader of the younger group of the N.R.P., and he introduced it as an amendment to one of the labor laws in the Knesset. Although Almogi, the Minister of Labor, strongly opposed it and tried to remove it from the agenda, Hammer and Menachem Porush gathered enough support to pass it by a vote of 24–22. At present, my Rosh Chodesh plan is in committee, which is expected to invite testimony and discussion. I will not elaborate further here, but I enclose an article from the Jerusalem Post that outlines it, and it will also appear in Hadoar and possibly already in Haaretz. The religious newspapers in Israel have prominently covered it. I believe that endorsements by the R.C.A. to the Prime Minister and to the Israeli Ambassador in Washington, expressing support for this plan that could help address Israel’s religious challenges, would greatly strengthen its prospects. We have the chance to advance something creative that can contribute to the state’s inner peace and harmony, and I would be deeply grateful for your vigorous support. I look forward to seeing you and discussing it at your convenience. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Joe: I am sorry that I have not had the chance to meet you personally in the week or so since I have returned from Israel. Let this, then, be my פרי פי to you – and to Dr. Weiss as well, since he is receiving a copy of this letter. Please do me the favor of reading this letter carefully, for I shall be very brief. If you want me to supplement it with any more information, you know that you are free to call on me. During the months I spent in Israel, there occurred the unhappy Ahalon affair. The problem set me thinking as to how we could carefully solve the problem of protecting the integrity of Shabbat and at the same time being considerate of all the demands of the non-observant Jews who, because of a six day week of labor, feels hemmed in and curbed by Sabbath restrictions. I developed an idea which I communicated to Zevulun Hammer, s the leader of the youth group of the N.R.P. I formulated it for him, gave him the background and rationale, he presented it as an amendment to one of the labor coalition meetings. Aloni, the Minister of Labor, was up in opposition to it, and insisted that it be removed from the agenda for discussion. However, Hammer and his group were able to combine forces with Menahem Porush and Menachem Persush from Agudah and the Knesset by 24–22. As of now, then, my Rosh Chodesh plan is in committee in the Knesset, and, if passed, can be amended through further discussion and discussion. I have refrained from elaborating on the nature of the plan, and refer you instead to the enclosed article in the Jerusalem Post which explains it at least in rudimentary fashion. It will also be published in Hebrew in the next edition of Hadoar, and possibly has already appeared in Haaretz. The religious newspapers, of course, have given it prominent display in their news items in Israel. I think that representations by the O.U.J.C.A. to the Prime Minister, and to the Israeli Ambassador to Washington, telling them that the Union heartily endorses the pla…

Dear Jack: I am writing to you and to a few other select individuals from among leaders in the American Jewish community and in industry and scholarship. It is my hope that you will contribute your prestige and influence to a proposal to solve a grievous problem in the State of Israel. During my recent stay in Israel there took place the unfortunate Ashkelon car-race affair. This was only the latest of the many incidents that have plagued the State in the area of Sabbath observance. It is hard to convey the sense of animosity, of contempt, and of social disruption caused by this and similar conflicts. Under the present six-day-a-week situation, non-observant Jews have only Saturdays available for travel, entertainment, artistic events, sports, etc. To be denied the right to pursue their interests on this one free day of the week is something they understandably consider intolerable. Yet to permit the open and public desecration of the Sabbath is to invite the de-Judaization of the Land of Israel. Furthermore, observant Jews find the situation even more onerous, because their religious convictions prevent them from participating in public events even in a limited measure. It has occurred to a number of people that the only equitable solution is the five-day week. Eventually this system will have to come to Israel. But economists maintain that this cannot be instituted in the foreseeable future. J It therefore occurred to me that a way out of this problem is the restoration of Rosh Hodesh (the first day of each Hebrew month) as an official day of rest in Israel. This will add from seven to nine days (instead of approximately fifty as in the^ five-day week) to the current number of official days-off. During this time there can be scheduled many of the "events" now scheduled for Saturdays, for want of any other time. Religious and secular Jews will both benefit, the escalation or tempers and tensions will be avoided, and an ancient Jewish tradition reestablished -— at …

Dear Ari: Interested in Rosh Hodesh idea for Commentator? Yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

לכבוד הרב נחום לאם הנכבד, שלום וברכה מציון! בהיותך על אדמת הקודש זכית למלאות שליחות חשובה שבזמן של סערה ומאבק על השבת. בזמן המרוץ העלת את בעיית הפיכת ראש חודש, ליומא דפגרא ועל ידה לתרום תרומה גדולה לחזוקה של שבת קדשנו בעיקר בשטח, טיולים, ספורט ובידור וכו'. הננו לציין כי הצעתך לא היתה, כקול קורא במדבר והרעיון התחיל להכות גלים באספות ובפגישות סגורות, היא הגיעה לעתונות, לגלי אתר ולכנסת וההצעה אומצה על ידי הארגון הארצי למען השבת ובדעת הארגון להמשיך ולטפל בה עד שהדבר יצא מכח אל הפועל.מתוך החומר ששלחנו בדואר, הנך יכול להכיר את מטרת הארגון הארצי המשמש בית וועד לכל נאמני השבת בארץ והעבודה נעשית בהתנדבות על ידי עסקנים נאמנים מכל זרמי היהדות הדתית בארץ.לקראת הדיון בועד הפועל הכינונו את החומר על הצעתך מהעתונות וגם מדברים שלך שהגיעו לידנו.כמו כן בדעתנו מאד להוציא חוברת מיוחדת (כדוגמת סדרה ד) ולכנס בתוכה את כל החומר שהופיע עד כה בקשר להצעתך ולהפיץ את החומר בצורה עממית ולהכשיר הלבבות בקשר לתודעה של הפיכה ראש חודש ליומא דפגרא.לצערנו תקציבנו מוגבל אבל אנו נעשה את כל מה שביכולתנו ובמדת אפשרותנו.ביחד עם זה גם רצוי שבין יהודי חוץ לארץ(ביחוד העומדים על סף העליה לארץ), לעשות נפשות, למען בצוע רעיונך במסגרת ממלכתית. הדבר יכול להיעשות בראשותך. בצרוף אנשי שם, שבצוותא אתנו יכוונו פעולות ההסברה, מהתם להכא ומהבא להתם.בסיום מכתב זה הננו שולחים לך ברכת חזק ואמץ... ותזכה להמשכו של המתחיל במצווה.... אנו לימנך...בברכת השבתהארגון הארצי למען השבת ועדת ההסברההרב א. הגרמשה בן-נחוםהרב יצחק גלזר

Dear Ludwig: The enclosed letter is being sent to you as one of a number of prominent people whom I am soliciting for the cause which the letter describes. I am adding this cover letter because I just learned that, to my pleasant surprise, you have a direct relationship with the issue. As you will notice, it concerns a plan I put forward to solve the Shabbat problem in Israel. In a nutshell, it involves transforming Rosh Hodesh from a personal to a public festival. This week Prof. Karl Darmstadler from Washington informed me that your laterfather, ע״ה , had made a similar proposal in the small kehillah in which he lived some fifty years ago! In addition to the delightful coincidence, I am curious as to the details of his pרoposal, the reasons for it, and what came of it, if anything. I would appreciate being enlightened about it either by letter or personally. Meanwhile, I am very anxious to get off the telegram to Golda Meir as soon as possible. Could you be kind enough not only to answer the return postal card at once but to call me or my secretary and let us know that we may use your name? If you have any other ideas as to prominent American Jews, whose names Golda and the others in Israel would recognize, whom I can mobilize for this cause, I would appreciate hearing about them from you. Warmest regards to Ericka. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Lamm: In response to your letter of February 18th, instead of having a holiday on Rosh Hodesh, I would rather have a five-day week with Friday and Saturday off as Friday is only a half-day anyway. With kind regards. Sincerely, Joseph M. Mazer

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Forgive me for delaying my answer to your letter of February 17th. As a matter of principle, I do not mix in in public affairs unless I consider it a problem of urgent importance. I believe that an academician should stick to this principle. Kindest regards and best wishes, Sincerely yours, Saul Lieberman

Dear Rav Lamm, A letter written by you (an answer to a previous letter sent to you is before me. the Date: March 7, 1969, almost 2 years ago. In it you wrote that you "had not previously hear of the מדרש which [1] quoted" and you found it fascinating you added: "what is its source?" It took me a long time to find that that מדרש beginning...