Just two months ago, we were happy to welcome to our midst, Rabbi Norman Lamm. At this time, we are pleased to welcome another to our family circle, Mrs. Norman Lamm. Since Rabbi and Mrs. Lamm were recently married, we take this opportunity to wish them Mazeltov and best wishes for a very happy life together. At the same time, we consider ourselves fortunate to have with us such a charming and wonderful couple. It is our earnest desire and fervent hope that together the strength and enthusiasm of Kodimoh will grow ever greater. Mrs. Sanford Kimball, President.

Rabbinic Committee Seeking a Successor: At a membership meeting this August, the resignation of Rabbi Norman Lamm from Kodimoh was accepted with regret. Rabbi Lamm, who came to us on January 1, 1954, will be leaving as of Oct. 15 to become associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center in New York City. Meanwhile, a Rabbinic Committee appointed by Dr. Izenstein, our President, has been interviewing candidates for the post of Rabbi of Kodimoh. Following are messages from Rabbi Lamm and Dr. Izenstein.God Speed: Dear Rabbi Lamm: It is indeed with considerable regret that our Congregation has accepted your resignation as “Rabbi of Kodimoh,” to take effect on Oct. 15, 1958. In January 1954 you arrived in our midst to undertake, with great enthusiasm, the task of welding together the family of Kodimoh. During the years of your ministry and under your spiritual guidance and leadership, our Congregation has gone forward, as its name implies. It has progressed in every field of Congregational endeavor, to reach heights never before attained. We are resolute in our determination to continue the high standards set by your inspiration.The officers and members of all the groups which comprise the Kodimoh family join me in wishing you, Mrs. Lamm, and your family Godspeed in your new undertaking.Tsays’chem L’Shalom, Louis A. Izenstein, M.D.Farewell: It is with a great sense of regret at having to leave all my dear friends of Kodimoh that I say farewell. For Mrs. Lamm and me, so many of you have become almost as members of our family. The friendships we have formed, from very young to very old, will always remain part of us. It could not be otherwise.I leave Kodimoh with an expression of gratitude for the cooperation it has always shown and the readiness with which it has always responded to its spiritual leadership during the past five years. Now that major hurdles of the Building Program have been crossed, I hope Kodimoh will expeditiously bring the project to a successful conclusion. It …

The entire synagogue family of The Jewish Center was thrilled to learn during the summer of the designation of Rabbi Norman Lamm as the President of Yeshiva University. He succeeds the late Samuel Belkin, of blessed memory, to the leadership of the foremost Jewish institution of higher education in this country. Rabbi Lamm has already begun much of his new duties, but will fulfill many of his rabbinic functions at The Center as well while the search for his successor is under way. During the eighteen years that Rabbi Lamm served at The Jewish Center, The Center membership has come to appreciate his qualities of intellect and personality. His accomplishments within The Center, and the membership and neighborhood which it serves, have been remarkable. Following the tradition of our Senior Rabbi Leo Jung, he has conducted his rabbinate on the highest level of dignity and integrity. He has been successful in bringing to The Center growing numbers of new worshippers and members. His sermons, lectures, seminars, and classes, were always packed events. In many ways, the intellectual stimulation which he provided and which attracted and retained younger members may have of itself been a stabilizing force in the neighborhood. Rabbi Lamm’s educational and leadership activities reached out beyond The Center itself to the neighborhood. He has served as a Vice Chairman of the West Side Jewish Community Council. He is Jakob and Erna Michael Professor of Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University and led scores of students to their intensive interest in matters of Jewish concern. His educational interests included service and leadership at Camp Morasha, a leading educational summer camp. He has been instrumental in the leadership and support for Gesher, a unique educational foundation in Israel. He served for many years as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Yavneh, the college level orthodox student organization. Center members came to know Rabbi Lamm’s intellect not only through…

Intensive study of the Torah in an atmosphere of fellowship among our congregants has always been an aim of The Jewish Center. To achieve this goal this year in a new way, The Center will be sponsoring a weekend retreat for families in an informal hotel setting near New York City, beginning on a Friday and concluding on a Sunday afternoon. The Kallah will be open to Center families only, and limited to no more than fifty people, in order to achieve intimacy in study, fellowship, and tefillah. Our own Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm, will be the Scholar in Residence for the Kallah, which will take place October 31 – November 2.

Dear Members of The Center Family: It is difficult to exercise normal objectivity and restraint in describing the experience of Sukkot in Israel, and especially in Jerusalem. It is a time when differences in opinion and background seem to vanish, or at least mellow, and the whole country is swept up in its joyous celebration. Instead of a systematic and logical description, I shall simply offer a few disconnected vignettes in the hope that, together, they will somehow suggest the exhilaration felt by an American visitor.*Meah Shearim, the dags before Sukkot. The narrow streets are crowded with vendors and purchasers, haggling happily over price and quality of the arba minim. Pedigrees of estrogim are carefully described. Small and delicate Ashkenazi-type etrogim more green than yellow, growing naturally without the pitem — a sign of the purity of the species. Large, melon-sized Yemenite etrogim which most Americans have never seen. Jews of all types, with little children everywhere. This is what erev Sukkot must have looked like not only in the shtetl, but in ancient Babylon and ancient Israel as well.*Jerusalem, Sukkot. All traffic lights turn into blinkers as streets are crowded with old and young carrying their lularim and etrogim to shul. People seem to be planning for the great events at night — the beginning of Simhat Bet Ha’shoevah. This water-drawing festival begins on the eve of the second day of the holiday and continues to Shemini Atzeret. We attended the opening session at the Yeshurun synagogue, addressed by the Chief Rabbi and Ministers of Religions, and ending with the dignitaries and crowds joining in the dancing. How strange for an Amercan Jew to hear a band playing in the synagogue on the eve of the “second day of Yom Tov!” Every night, a different synagogue in a different area of the city sponsors such a celebration. Truly zeman simhateuu, “a time of our joy!”*Hol Humoed in the Vpper (ialilee. Turning a bend on the Northern Road, right at the Leb…

I returned to my apartment in Jerusalem to find two technicians, who had come to install a telephone, enjoying a coffee break. My wife introduced me to the men, who were partaking of their refreshments bare-headed. “You’re religious,” said one of them, “so I suppose you resent our eating without kippot.’’ “I am religious,” I replied, “therefore I have two main worries, in this order: first, that my fellow-man have enough to eat, and second, that he do so properly — kosher, with blessing, and head covered.” He was clearly taken aback. Soon he smiled, opened his briefcase, and produced a mini-kippah which he donned, explaining, “In that case, I’m glad to wear one ...”This illustrates, to an extent, an insight I gained into Israel’s religious situation— its promises and its perplexities. There are many “non-observant" who are ready to return, to Torah. But they will not be coerced. They will not be pushed. They want to be invited, gently, to cross over to Torah.GESHER (“bridge”) is attempting to do just that. Its work is geared to intro- ducing Judaism, as it is, without missionizing or overselling, to the non-dati. Its begin- nings have been small — but its opportunities are great, if we in America will help along.Following are two excerpts from, non-observant participants in seminars con- ducted by Gesher. The first appeared in a Mapai journal by an adult resident of Kfar Blum.“. . . But most important was the contact which we had with sensitive religious ‘youth. Young and enthusiastic, keepers of all mitzvot both large and small — yet not fanatic or strange, but people searching for a way toward mutual understanding and tolerance — this is what distinguishes them. In our day when it sometimes seems that there is nothing in common between us and religious Jewry, and the abyss which separates us is only widening — it is refreshing to see that there are indeed others. Within religious Jewry there are groups whose members recognize a gen…

Rabbi Lamm was designated a member of the Board of Overseers of Bar Ilan University in Israel.

Rabbi Lamm's A Hedge of Roses, which was published in Hebrew under the title Sugah ba-Shoshanim, has now appeared in a second edition in the Hebrew in Israel.

A very fine crowd turned out to witness the installation of the newly elected officers of Sisterhood at the Annual Spring Luncheon, held this year at Moshe Peking’s Restaurant. Rabbi lanro installed the new officers and delivered an inspiring talk at this delightful occasion. Sincerest expressions of appreciation were extended to the outgoing President, Mrs. A. Harry Skydell, for her outstanding leadership and tireless devotion to Sisterhood as well as to her deep Interest in the welfare of all worthy causes. Our hearty wishes of success and accomplishment to the newly and re-elected officers of Sisterhood: Mrs. Elsa Leibler; President Mrs. Gertwude Cohen; Vice President Mrs. Edith Aussenberg; Vice President Mrs. Eva Romer; Vice President Mrs. Margy Kahn; Vice President Mrs. Rochelle Tennenbaum; Treawrer Mrs. Hadassah Gold; Secretary Mrs. Sadye Bayer; Social Secretary

An exciting "first“ for The Jewish Center Family was the widely acclaimed Shabbaton, held on the weekend of October 31-November 2 in Ellenville, New York, and which successfully combined thought-provoking study, stimulating discussions, comradeship, and lively entertainment. Centering our concern on “The Family in Crisis," our scholars in residence – Rabbi Norman Lamm and the noted sociologist Dr. Jerry Hochbaum – highlighted the major problem areas, both historic and contemporary, and guided our search to solutions in dealing with the new pressures on family life.A spirit of warmth permeated the entire weekend, attended by three generations of The Center Family. Whether swimming, studying, or dining -- we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. And now, we look forward to the next Shabbaton!