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October 28, 1959

Talk to Day School P.T.A. of Yeshivah Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik (1959)

Jewish Education
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Documents About R. Soloveitchik's View on Halachah Education

The first of these two documents comes from the Emanuel Rackman collection of the Rav’s meetings 1963-1970, from our archives. The second, unsigned letter to Dr. Belkin, has all the marks of the Rav’s style and thinking. From internal evidence, the letter was written before the end of the 1950s. To anyone concerned with the preservation and development of Judaism, the current state of general Halachic knowledge must constitute a disturbing anomaly. Halacha has, historically, served as the central vehicle of Jewish life and thought. It has not merely represented, as creed and code, a set of precepts guiding belief and practice. Rather, Halacha has been the channel of a total religious life, stimulating thought, energising feeling, focusing action. It has always been a world-view and a world-experienc Moreover, it was not only an elite scholarly coterie which Halacha addressed in this capacity. Judaism has insisted that intellectual involvement must constitute an essential element of individual religious experience. Hence, the principles and insights of Halacha have never been considered the private preserve of some but the inviolable property of each and every Jew, addressing him personally and involving him directly.Unfortunately, the contemporary scene presents a somewhat different prospect. Despite Judaism's traditionally exoteric approach, a number of factors have combined to impede widespread study of Halacha so that its sound knowledge has become Increasingly confined to a relatively small and quasi-academic circle. The language barrier, changed educational patterns, a weakening in religious observance and commitment, a breakdown in com- munication between rabbinic scholars and intelligent layment, the competition offered by a host of modern distractions - all have contributed to making Halacha a literally closed book for the average Jew. Moreover, even those who do know some Halacha, often have only acquired scattered bits of knowledge - a precept here and an…
Jewish Education

Correspondence

Exchange with R. Rosenfeld about Need for Midtown Jewish Day School (1952)

Dear Rabbi Rosenfeld: I want to call to your attention the fact that no All–Day school exists in all mid–town. I believe that it is possible to establish an All–Day kindergarten and perhaps arrange for classrooms in my synagogue, the West Side Jewish Center. I hope that you will be able to be of assistance to me in this project. I know that I can count on you and the Jewish Education Committee for full cooperation. Sincerely, Norman Lamm, Rabbi
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Correspondence

Letter to R. Soloveitchik about Opening a Pre-School (1953)

לכבוד מורי ורבי הרה"ג וכו' שליט"א, שליט"א, הנני מעיז להיות בין חומסי עתותיו בשאלת הלכה למעשה. אך זכותי לעשות כן מצאתי בדבריו המלהיבים שדבר אלינו רק אתמול לרגלי חג הסמיכה, באמרו עלינו, תלמידיו ומעריציו, להגיש אליו כל השאלות החמורות ולהביא לפניו את כל דבר קשה. השאלה איננה מן השאלות אשר תשובותיהן נמצאות בש"ע, אלא מסוג הבעיות של public relations, ובכן פתרונה נעלם ממני עוד יותר. מרגע הראשון שראיתי תחת השפעת רומע"כ, למדתי להעריך את המפעל של רנין ישיבות – בתי-ספר כל יומיים – כהדרך העיקרי להרבצת התורה.
Jewish Education