Reasm Rabbis Talmud (מגילה, פ"ק) for Shkalim. אמר ר"ל גלוי וידוע לפני מי שאמר והי' העולם שעתיד המן הרשע לשקל שקלים על ישראל, לפיכך הקדים שקליהם לשקלי המן – והיינו דתנן, בא' באדר משמיעין על השקלים. Thus 2 things: a) G-d purposely commanded מצות שקלים centuries before the המן episode to neutralize it – by Jews voluntarily offering שקלים to G-d, King of the Universe, counteract effects שקלים of Haman to Achashverosh.... b) ... פרשת שקלים read before פורים.

Dear Mrs. Gruen, Thank you for showing me the October 19 copy of "Peace News." I was happy to have the opportunity of acquainting myself with the Pacifist point of view. However, I must say that I was shocked and dismayed by the lead story in that issue, entitled "Israel and Jordan" by Brijen K. Gupta. In what purports to be an "inside story" on the Middle East crisis, I have found a most intemperate and one-sided condemnation of Israel certainly not calculated to pacify inflamed passions in that international cauldron. The correspondent's thesis is that Israel's policy of "massive retaliation" is the very factor that is disturbing the peace, and that this is traceable to Ben Gurion's "aggressive Zionism." The sophisticated reportorial verbiage aside, this is the essence of the position of the Arab war lords who have been threatening for over eight years now to "push Israel into the sea." Israel, according to this point of view, must behave like a gentleman and remain supremely oblivious to the murder of its citizens on its own soil, the boycott against it, the closing of international water-ways to its shipping and constant warmongering against it. And if Israel raises a finger in its own defense, that is "naked aggression." It calls to mind the story of the youngster reproached by his father for fighting with his friends. "Who started the fight?" asks Father. "He did," replies the youngster, "he hit me back first.""Israel," the correspondent advises, "must take a lead in creating an atmos-phere of mutual trust and peace." Does not this correspondent, who announces that he is giving "the inside story," acknowledge any of the facts of recent history? Does he not know, or want to know, that Israel from the day of its birth has been asking for peace with the Arabs, and has even included this request in its Declaration of Independence? - that for years now its represent-ative at the U.N. has been asking vainly for the Arab delegates to sit down with him and begin nego…

1. Sidra – body Torah's civil-criminal legislation. 2. And first section – slavery: limitations, emancipation → eventual abolition. 3. Why this first before dignity human life, respect property? 4. Ibn Ezra: all משפטים good: achieve justice... method: uproot injustice... and עבדות greatest injustice of all. 5. why mention: not to impress you evil slavery... But – King Saul... 6. we Jews accustomed soft spot American Pres. for Saudi Rulers. Robt. Sherwood on FDR after Yalta. 7. But this more than friendly meeting – official state invitation, address UN, red carpet

(1) Story of Elijah the prophet of Baal – (2) why redundancy in danger: ענני ה' ענני – (3) midrash: א"ר אמי – אמר אליהו: ענני שתֵרד אש מן השמים, וענני שתסיח דעתם שלא יאמרו מעשה ההוא הם, מעשה כשפים הם – (4) idea: achievement of a follow-up – creative auto-sustaining power, ability requests – and remain in there, not to be attained.

Dear Rabbi Lamm: As usual, my husband and I were very much interested in your sermon last Saturday morning. We feel always so stimulated by your messages, except that we sense a certain aversion to Zionism every time you touch on the subject of Israel. Motivated by your call to the worshippers to speak up when they feel a wrong has been done, I am encouraged to take the liberty of commenting on your remarks in synagogue last Saturday morning. In the course of your sermon you criticized Ben-Gurion for choosing to spend his vacation to “meditate” in a Burmese Monastery. You implied that thereby he was betraying his own religion and setting a bad example for his fellow Jews. I am afraid the facts as presented were rather misleading because they were not given in the right perspective. This is especially unfortunate, as many of your congregants may not be acquainted with the events leading to Mr. Ben-Gurion’s action. You undoubtedly know that the coming sessions of the United Nations will deal with the Arab refugee problem and that these will be trying days for Israel, which will be subjected to a heavy barrage of attacks from all sides. You are also certainly aware that Israel has few, if any, friends. Mr. U Nu, who is a personal good friend of Mr. Ben-Gurion, is perhaps the only true friend Israel now has. He has invited Israel’s Prime Minister to be his guest, and as he has chosen to become a priest, his invitation was naturally extended to his Monastery. The present Acting Secretary-General, Mr. U Thant, is, as you know, a Burmese, and Mr. U Nu, though withdrawn to his Monastery, still has great influence on the representatives of his country and has earned the respect of many neutral countries. While the real reasons prompting Mr. Ben-Gurion’s acceptance of the invitation to Burma would not, of course, be stated publicly, it seems obvious that he is not going for the purpose of “meditating” or alienating his G’d, but rather in the interests of his people, trying …

Dear Rabbi Lamm: I would like to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to you for your kind permission to print your article "Our Dependence Upon Israel's Independence." Although it was mailed out only a week or so ago, it has already elicited a very favorable response. I was out of town for a few days this week. During my travels I had the opportunity to go through the article at leisure. I must express my sincere admiration to you. Again, please accept our thanks. I know that we can count upon you for your future cooperation.I remain with greetings of Torah and Zion,Sincerely yours,Elie TomEG/bsDirector

Dear Debbi: Mrs. Lamm and I were thrilled to receive your lovely post card overflowing, as it was, with such enthusiasm for the Holy Land. The "crazy" things you have been doing certainly are an index of your own vitality and to my own mystic mentality of the "kedushat ha-aretz." We look forward to seeing you upon your return with the marvelously beneficial results of your stay no doubt being evident to all.Your parents and brother are all well, thank Heaven, and we shall give them personal regards to you when they visit.Warmest good wishes from everyone at The Center and from our children in particular.Cordially yours,Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Jung: Just a reminder about the announcement to the Congregation on the Shemini Atzeret for them to write to TWA expressing indignation at the lack of results so far in the release of the Israeli hostages, and also at the general conduct of TWA with regard to the hijacking. – Aaron Green P.S. – Aaron: This is my 2nd or 3rd request.

Dear Mr. Tillinghast: I am sure that there are many, many others like me who, despite strong feelings, have hesitated heretofore to write to you concerning the role of TWA in the recent hijacking of a TWA plane to Syria. I have no doubt that TWA is doing its best to secure the release of the two Israeli passengers for whom it is fully responsible. Nevertheless, I hope that the company is aware of the fact that the original newspaper reports that the pilot was remaining to oversee repairs rather than to secure the release of the hostages left a terrible impression with all past, present, and potential customers of TWA. Furthermore, it would seem to be good company policy that in the event of such future acts of piracy, no member of crew leave until all passengers have been released. As a frequent air traveler, I know that I would feel much safer were this done, if only for the reason that the number of crew members involved would increase the public protests throughout the world. Recently, a new international airport was opened in Damascus. I understand that airlines of a number of countries have refused to use this airport as a protest against the hijacking. I do not recall seeing any mention of such a refusal by TWA. I wonder, therefore, if you would be kind enough to let me know whether or not the company is using the Damascus airport and what it further proposes to do to secure the release of its two passengers who remain imprisoned in Damascus. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

I. Introduction – A. Spoke here ten years ago today. B. My theme simple. Rabbi Meyer Shapiro of Lublin once gave complicated drasha for Moas Hittim appeal. After ending, his audience discussed intricacies of his dialectic. One child was present. Rabbi to child: did you understand what I talked about? Child: yes, the rabbi wanted money. Rabbi: this child understood the sermon better than anyone else... C. Independence Day should not only be occasion for celebration, but dedication; not only gratitude for past but commitment for future – through U.J.A. D. Little that I can tell you that you cannot read in today’s Times, or tomorrow’s Day-Morning Journal. Let me then give you some insights I gained from my semi-sabbatical. II. Social problems – A. “Black Panthers” should not frighten you. The real outrage is not their choice of a dramatic name, but the necessity for having to remind us of their impoverished conditions. Visit the Katamon’s – no customers for your jewels. 250,000 people below poverty level – 12–14 people in one and a half rooms. U.J.A. III. Armaments industry – A. No reliance on France and other countries, hence develop own military industrial complex. My recollections of how it began when I worked for munitions research for Israel in New York in May 1948. IV. A. Romanian Jews whom you meet in Jerusalem – actually purchased, at so much and so much per head. U.J.A. B. Russian Jews – in Jerusalem under the shadow of the Wall. Their tremendous spunk. Their arrival at Lod. Their demonstration for the Leningrad trials at the Kotel. Story of Natashya. V. A. To do all of this Israelis have to accept cruel tax burden, highest in world, with no complaint – 90% of tax is for defense. B. We must be partners. VI. A. I ask you to be good Jews, not better Jews, or warm Jews: 3 types. VII. A. It is not enough to give, one must give adequately and sacrificially. Portion of Metzorah – two kinds of sacrifice at occasion of cleansing, one for rich, and one for poor. And l…