Dear Rabbi Rabinowitz: It was a pleasure to hear from you and to know that all is well with you. We are looking forward with great expectation to your article on “The Time Lag of Halacha” for the Festschrift in honor of Rabbi Jung. We do hope it will be submitted at the time indicated. As to the confidential information you solicited concerning “P”, all I can do is repeat with greater emphasis the estimation I originally gave you. He is a man of some talent and he makes a very favorable impression, but he is a thoroughly irresponsible person, and I would not say this if I did not feel that he could undo all the work that you have accomplished for the past 20 years. This information is given to you of course on the premise that my name will not ever enter into the picture and that what I am telling you is only for your own information. At the same time may I reiterate my warm recommendation of Rabbi Rabinowitz of South Carolina. You will remember that he was the one I recommended previously. It will be a great victory for all of Judaism if he will win the appointment. With best regards to Mrs. Rabinowitz, sincerely yours, Norman Lamm

My dear Rabbi Lamm, May I congratulate you most sincerely upon the outstanding sermon “Let Criticism be Welcome” which reached me recently together with the Jewish Center Bulletin. In view, however, of the title and subject of the sermon I am taking the liberty of offering a criticism of it and I am sure that you will accept it and be of those who are not only סופרים but also אוהבים את התוכחות. In the second paragraph of page 2 you write – “The freedom to criticise the government is what determines whether the government is a democracy or a dictatorship. The difference between a good democracy and a poor one is the extent to which it encourages and invites dissent and right. No nation, society, or people can live a high moral plane if criticism is discouraged or suppressed. That is why when one of our outstanding citizens is not afraid of treachery he should be considered a national hero.” Surely the words “the United States” would have followed should have been “the Government of the United States.” A more peculiar non sequitur than that which you have given, it would be difficult to find. Surely what is of great national and moral importance is not whether there is criticism of Israel or of America but as you say in your next sentence “of Israel to criticise the government of the State of Israel.” I am writing this to you for two reasons. Firstly because I have very recently come across an American who was ever the possible exception of the late Shmarya Levin, who has ever made such trenchant criticism of Israel and its failings, as a non-Jew. He is now dead, but when I read from time to time of the unconscious acceptance by Americans of Israel I feel that it is because of people like you who have the courage to criticise her government that they feel for you statements that are not correct, who say that for you statements that are correct. Israel might have yourself authorised the criticism of the State of Israel which you has felt yourself compelled to make re…

My Dear Rabbi Rabinowitz: Your manuscript on the problem of American Orthodox relations to the State of Israel finally arrived yesterday and I read it with great care. Needless to say it is extremely well done and clearly points to a major problem in the whole ideological structure of American Orthodoxy. This problem has bothered me considerably, especially after my visit to Israel when I returned from India six months ago. I myself feel caught up In the ambivalence that seems to characterize the whole posture of traditional Judaism in the United States. It is something that cannot be lightly dismissed. I think it requires very deep thought and profound analysis, and I suspect that the underlying motives are of a highly consequential nature. As a matter of fact, I am beginning to doubt whether there will be any "great debate" on this theme in our ranks. I fear that the problem is too deeply psychological in a collective sense to become the basis for a doctrinal dialogue which involves at least two clearly defined points of view.Space does not permit me to elaborate on my preliminary thinking on this subject. I wish we had spent more time together when you were here on your last visit. However, I would like to offer this suggestion: the dilemma, to my mind, is caused in no small way by the modesty of the original Zionist aspirations. Zionism dreamt of a State and now we have it – how after this fullfillment, are we still to entertain Zionism as a worthy goal?I believe that if all of Zionism had been geared to the messianic visions of a Kalischer or Reines, visions which transcended the political and social and were informed by a mystic and eschatological impulse, then Zionism would still be a dynamic reality for committed Jews today. This, of course, is in addition to the sense of frustration and disappointment which American Orthodoxy suffers when contemplating the secularism am of the Non-Orthodox elements in Israel and the refusal of so much of the right wing to …

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Our journal, “The S.A. Jewish Observer,” is the official mouthpiece of Religious Zionism in this country and fulfils an important role in the community. Every year we publish a special Rosh Hashana Annual, and at present we are busy with our 1962 Rosh Hashana Annual. Men of the calibre of Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung, Rabbi Dr. A. Altmann, Professor S. Baron, and Herman Wouk are a few of the many distinguished names of contributors, chosen at random, whose articles have been featured in some of our past issues.We shall consider it a privilege to feature an article penned by yourself, which will most certainly add to the prestige of our Annual. My Editorial Board has suggested we should leave the subject of the article to your discretion. The length of the article should be approximately 1,000–1,200 words, and the deadline for receipt of copy is the 6th August, 1962.We would be pleased to receive a photograph of yourself, as well as a few biographical notes, to be featured with the article.Unfortunately, the limits of our budget at the present time do not permit us to offer substantial honoraria. As a token, therefore, we propose paying a nominal sum of three guineas, and we hope that in the spirit of our appreciation for your kind and valued support, it will be acceptable to you.We look forward to hearing from you in the affirmative and sincerely hope that we will have the pleasure of featuring your article.Thanking you in anticipation,Yours sincerely,(Miss) R. Bloch

Dear Mr. Misheikers: I am deeply appreciative of the honor done to me by your Board in inviting me to visit your community for your Jewish Education Campaign early in 1964. It would have given me very great pleasure indeed to avail myself of this opportunity to pay my first visit to South Africa and to meet its outstanding Jewish community. But after the most careful consideration, and following consultation with my officers, I find that it will regrettably be impossible for me to contemplate a protracted absence from New York during the next winter and spring season, particularly since I was only six months ago absent on a month's lecture tour in England. The period between Rosh Hashanah and Pesach is the busiest in our congregational calendar, and as we have no assistant Rabbi, many of our activities would grind to a standstill during my absence. I wonder, however, whether it would be of any help to you if I suggested to you an alternative visitor who might be agreeable to accepting the assignment. The Rabbi I have in mind is Rabbi Norman Lamm, the distinguished Associate Rabbi of the Jewish Center (131 West 86th street, New York City), our sister congregation in New York. He is a splendid speaker and enjoys a nation-wide reputation as one of the outstanding scholars and lecturers in the American Orthodox Rabbinate. His name may be familiar to you as the first editor of Tradition, now the leading Rabbinical magazine in this country. He has also had some invaluable foreign experience, notably through his important mission to the Jewish communities in India on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America a few years ago. I have no doubt that his messages would be received with great acclaim by all his audiences.I hope I may look forward to some future occasion for such a visit. Meanwhile, I trust you will appreciate the difficulties in the way of accepting your gracious invitation this time.Wishing your sacred endeavors every possible success, I …

Dear Rabbi Lamm, It was a great pleasure meeting you during my recent visit to New York, and I am indeed pleased that my proposal to you to visit us may well materialise. I have no doubt whatever that this visit will prove of benefit to everyone concerned. Within the next two or three weeks we shall be having a smaller conference here specifically devoted to the content of Hebrew and Jewish Education in our day-schools. It has been the contention of some that insufficient time is devoted to Hebrew and Jewish Education and in fact our pupils receive a very superficial knowledge.In order to provide some basis of comparison I would be most grateful to you if you could send me a specimen typical syllabus of a Jewish day-school in New York. I refer of course to a school that has to cover a secular syllabus laid down by the Government Education Department. Our schools cater up to the metric, i.e. the University entrance examination, which means that a child who begins his education in our schools has twelve years with us.I would be interested to know how many hours constitute a complete school day and what portion of this time is devoted to specific Hebrew and Jewish studies.May I take this opportunity of wishing you and your family health and happiness in the coming year.With kindest regards and best wishes,Sincerely yoursH.S. Liebgott

Dear Rabbi Lapin: With reference to my letter of September 30, Rabbi Lamm has informed me that he will be visiting South Africa beginning the first week in February 1964. Rabbi Lamm's itinerary while in South Africa is being arranged by Mr. Misheiker, who is Chairman of the Jewish Board of Education. He suggests that you arrange with Mr. Misheiker to pick an evening (or perhaps Sunday afternoon) when he can speak to as large as possible a group of Orthodox Jewish scientists in Johannesburg. If you have not succeeded in organizing a group by that time, Rabbi Lamm's visit might provide an excellent stimulus for an organizational meeting.Yours very truly,Dr. Azriel RosenteldPresident

Dear Dr. Weiss: I have read through your "South African Travelogue" with great interest. It is a most comprehensive document and, for me personally, full of extremely valuable insights. I only hope I can do as well for the Board of Education as you have done for the Federation of Synagogues. I do hope I will have the opportunity of talking with you at greater length much in advance of my forthcoming trip, please G-d. Meanwhile, please accept my thanks not only for sending the report to me, but also for being instrumental in arranging for it.Sincerely,RABBI NORMAN LAMMNL\:ff

Dear Nissim, I thought you would like to know that I recently have been invited by the Board of Jewish Education of South Africa to visit that country for a lecture tour during this coming February please G-d. I know that your father-in-law, Rabbi Kossowsky, is one of the distinguished Rabbinic scholars in that country. If, therefore, there is any message you want to give me, or anything else you or your wife would wish me to do for you when I go, I shall be more than pleased to be of assistance. My very fondest regards to your wife and to your parents. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Lamm: I am writing to you at the suggestion of Mr. Victor Geller, of the Community Service Division at Yeshiva. Mr. Geller informed me at our recent Rabbinic Alumni Convention that you are planning to leave soon for South Africa, and it is in this connection that I am now writing to you. The Canadian Jewish Congress, Western Division, is in desperate search for an educational director. While they have one or two prospective candidates, the committee is not satisfied that it can make a proper choice from the men who are available to them. They have asked me to take a hand in seeking out prospects for them. In addition to other educational placement agencies, they asked me to turn to our Yeshiva placement service. Mr. Geller felt that the information about this job should be sent on to you, with the understanding that you may be able to apprise some able people on your trip of this opening. They, if interested, could then contact the local Congress office or me. Enclosed you will find a copy of a letter sent to me by the Executive Director of Congress, containing a job analysis which might be of interest to you, and to any individuals who might express an interest in this post. Your kind attention and cooperation will be deeply appreciated. I would be thankful for an indication of any prospective candidates, in a letter, upon your return. Please accept my best wishes for a safe and successful journey. Sincerely, Rabbi Irwin E. Witty, Director