Dear Rabbi Lamm: We are herewith enclosing our check for $75.00 covering your expenses for your two trips to Springfield. May I assure you that it was a pleasure having you with us, and that you made a deep impression upon the members of the congregation. As I mentioned to you we hope that we will come to a decision within ten days relative to your candidacy. With kindest regards, I am, Sincerely, Aaron Kurn, President

Dear Rabbi Lamm: It gives me great pleasure to inform you of your unanimous acceptance by the congregation to serve Kodimoh as its spiritual leader. We understand that you will assume your new position some time during the week of January 4, 1954. In behalf of Kodimoh, please accept our sincere congratulations. We are proud of our synagogue and congregation and feel certain that you will lead us to further accomplishments and sincere religious appreciation. We are certain that through your association with us, Kodimoh will maintain its position in the community and continue to be referred too, as a congregation of prestige. We look forward to your being with us and can assure you of our utmost cooperation and support.With kind personal regards, I amYours sincerely, Congregation KodimohAaron Kurn, President

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Just a brief note to extend you welcome to our community, and to congratulate you on becoming Rabbi of Kodimoh Congregation. You will find a fine congregation and a fine community. I am looking forward to meeting you in person. With every good wish and Brocho, Sincerely yours, Rabbi Herman E. Snyder

Hatikvah: Kol ode balei-vav pni-mah Ne-fesh yehu-di, ho-miyah Ule-fa-a-sey Mizrach Ka-di-mah A-yin letzion Tzo-fi-yah. Ode lo av-dah tik-va-tei-nu Ha-Tik-vah shnot al-payim Li-he-yot am chof-shi bear-tsei-nu BeSeretz Tzion viye-ru-sha-la-yim. Torah: Torah Tzi-vah lanu Mosheh Torah–Torah–tainu Torah Tzi-vah lanu Mosheh Mo-ra-shah Kehilas Ya-akov Torah Tzi-vah lanu Mosheh. Yisrael V’oraita (Israel and the Torah are one. Torah is light): Yi-yi-yi-yis-ra-el Yi-yis-ra-e V’oraisa chad hu Torah o-rah Torah o-rah Halleluyah. Baruch Eloheinu: Baruch Eloheinu Shebaranu lichvodo Ode hapa’am Lichvodo V’nosan Lanu Toras emess Ode hapa’am Toras emess. Amar Rabbi Akiva: Amar Rabbi Akiva Ve’ahavta l’reyacha kamocha Sheli shelach Zeh klal gadol baTorah. Lo Yisa Goy el Goy Cherev: Lo yisa goy el goy cherev V’lo yilmedu od milchamah. Hinei Mah Tov: Hinei mah tov umah na’im Shevet achim gam yachad. Im Ein Ani Li: Im ein ani li, mi li U’cheshe’ani l’atzmi, mah ani V’im lo achshav eimatai. Chasdei Hashem: Chasdei Hashem ki lo samu Ki lo chalu rachamav Yenomar lefanav Shirah chadashah Halleluyah. V’karave Pizurenu: V’karave pizurenu Mibein hagoyim U’nefutzosenu kanes Miyarksei aretz. Aileh Chamda Libi: Aileh chamda libi Chusah na v’al tisalem. Mah Tovu: Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov Mishkenotecha Yisrael. Hashiveinu: Hashiveinu Hashem eilecha V’nashuvah Chadeish yameinu kekedem. Hazorim B’dimah: Hazorim b’dimah Berinah yiktzoru. Achakeh Lo: Achakeh lo Bechol yom sheyavo. Utzu Eitzah: Utzu eitzah v’tufar Dabru davar v’lo yakum Ki imanu Kel. Eretz Yisrael: Eretz Yisrael bli Torah Hi keguf bli neshama Hey dun-dai. Na’aleh L’artzeinu: Na’aleh L’artzeinu berinah Yom gilah – yom rinah – yom menuchah – yom kedushah. Anu Banu Artzah: Anu Banu Artzah – Livnot u’lehibanot bah Anu, Anu, Banu, Artzah Livnot u’lehibanot, u’lehibanot bah Anu Banu Artzah Livnot livnot u’lehibanot bah. Emek Avodah: Emek, Emek Avodah, Emek, Emek, Horah Horah, Horah Emek Emek Horah. Artzah Alinu: Artzah Alinu K’var charashnu,…

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.

Dear Rabbi Lamm: I wish to congratulate you upon becoming Rabbi of Kodimah Synagogue. I hope that you will have a successful career and will find your work as satisfying as I did. It is a fine Congregation with a co-operative membership. The black sheep I will let you find out for yourself. The good ones I commend to your attention. You will find them particularly among the younger members, especially those who are active in the Day School. Rabbi Lookstein spoke to me about you in very glowing terms. I am sure you will be able to make Kodimah continue to be a fortress for traditional Judaism in the finest sense of the term. With sincerest congratulations and best wishes, I am Cordially yours, Rabbi Isaac Klein

Dear Member: The Late Friday Nite Services this week will serve as a "Welcome Home" reception for Rabbi and Mrs. Lamm. Services will begin at 8.15. Rabbi Lamm's sermon will be: "The Psychological History of the Demand for Change in Law." This is the last installment of "The Place of Jewish Law in Jewish Life." Cantor Herman Abramson and the Choir will chant the services. Following the services a special Oneg Shebat will be held in the vestry honoring the home coming of Rabbi and Mrs. Lamm. On Saturday morning, "Parsha Shkolim" Rabbi Lamm’s sermon will be: "Jewish Attitudes towards Wealth." A "Home Coming" Kiddush will be held in the vestry following the services. Let us give the Rabbi and new Rebetzin a warm welcome on their "Homecoming". Attend a services this weekend.Sincerely, Aaron KurnPresidentP. S. Jr. Cong, will meet at 9:45 Saturday morning. Following services they will join us in the Kiddush, Send your child to services, or better still, bring your chi 14 tn. services every Saturday,

My dear Lamm: I am enclosing a copy of my letter to your President. You may be sure that I shall try my best to spend the evening with you. Thanks for your note of explanation of the "politics." It is important that I know it because it will undoubtedly colour what I hope to say. My best to your wife and regards from all. Very cordially yours, Joseph H. Lookstein

Dear Friend: May we call to your attention a new feature in Kodimoh's spiritual program, which will no doubt be of interest to you? In the past, it has been our custom, on the four times a year when the Yizkor is recited, to read the names of the deceased in the course of the Memorial Prayers. Unfortunately, we have found that as time passes, more and more names are submitted for mentioning. This has reached the point where it has proven burdensome for the congregation to remain standing for the lengthy recital of the names. We feel that to continue in the same manner detracts from the dignity of the service and is well-nigh impractical. We know that in a number of years from now it will be completely out of the question. It has therefore been decided to adopt a system whereby we will be able to memorialize our beloved departed and still maintain the dignity and decorum of the service. Each year, before Yom Kippur, we shall publish a printed booklet containing the Yizkor prayers including a list of all the names of the deceased whose memory we wish to reverence. The Cantor will recite a collective "El Mole" for all those whose names appear in the booklet, at all four occasions during the year when Yizkor is said.The names which appear on plaques will be automat-ically included without special charge. For those who want to memorialize relatives and friends for whom there are no plaques, the following system will be adopted. For a voluntary contribution per name, we will include the name of the deceased plus the name of the donor. Since this is not a fund raising proposition we have decided to place a maximum limit on the donation. The charge, therefore, is entirely up to you. You are invited to give any contribution per name you wish, but the maximum limit is $15.00 per name.Ue respectfully request that you hurry and fill out the enclosed form. Please remember that the dead-line is September 20th. Absolutely no applications will be accepted after that date until the…

It is a pleasure to be with you on this first Annual Chanukah Banquet since my coming to Springfield. All this past year – eleven months – has been a series of “firsts”: first High Holidays, Purim, Simchat Torah, and so forth. This is the last of my “firsts,” for in a very short time I will have completed my first cycle in Kodimoh. Ordinarily, it would be inappropriate to hold a Kodimoh Festival – a purely congregational celebration – on Chanukah. Ein me’arvin simchah be‑simchah – we do not mingle one celebration with another, so as not to detract from either (as with weddings on Chol HaMoed or Purim). But today, both Kodimoh’s personal and Israel’s national Chanukah festivals coincide in essence: Lo va‑chayil ve‑lo va‑koach, ki im be‑ruchi, amar Hashem Tzeva’ot – not by might nor by power, but by My spirit, said the Lord of Hosts. And what is all this, if not a festivity in honor of our purpose, which is the ruach, the spirit of Torah and Judaism. The program of Kodimoh – in its ritual, educational, administrative, and auxiliary aspects – is the story of the implementation of that ruach, that Divine‑like spirituality, in all phases of our congregational life. All that has been done – and all that will be done – is geared to the premise that the primary function of a synagogue is the advancement of ruach Hashem Tzeva’ot, the spirit of Torah in the lives of those whom Kodimoh serves. I have been asked to present, in outline, both a review of the past year and a preview of what we expect in the coming year, God willing. But I shall not make a clean‑cut division between last year and next. At present we are in a state of flux – of continuing activity and progress. A great Hebrew poet once said something that in English would be rendered, “Today by tomorrow will be yesterday.” Let us look upon Kodimoh’s program as a continuous and unbroken implementation of ruach Hashem, the spirit of Torah. In the realm of ritual: High Holidays featured a pre‑Selichot social, reverent…