This Term's Course to Date (1972)

/ This Term's Course to Date (1972)

Synagogue Sermon

November 1972

This Term's Course to Date (1972)

Miscellaneous

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Directions for Further Work on Character Book (1972)

Finish introduction chapter by referring to current problems, using my Orthodoxy & Character essay written for Hollander. End by tying up the whole chapter as an “apology.” Chapter II – FREEDOM. Question of character as based on freedom. Refer first to Maimonides and emphasis on rational powers – say he’s representative of all Judaism – and show how we oppose both contemporary trends. Chapters 3 and 4 – take up as much of footnotage into text as possible. Chapter 5 – end tying to MAIMONIDES. Use him as first of three examples of Jewish characterology. Chapter 6 – CHABAD. Describe Tanya’s characterology. Use Teitelbaum, Glitzenstein. Look for fundamental principles that can serve as characterological fundamentals – or typology – as in Maimonides. Chapter 7 – HAZON ISH. Use my notes, and expand on my references to him in introduction chapter. Use his own Emunah u’Vitachon, etc., and Kalman Kahana.

Synagogue Sermon

Talmud Course Outline

(Lecture 1) Introduction: the Oral Law – Mishnah and Gemara, compendium and code. Commentaries. Some basic talmudic concepts. Tractate Berakhot. (Lecture 2) The time of the reading of the Shema. The Mishnah. Talmudic explication of the text. The Shema and the prayer service. (Lecture 3) Aggadic digression – illustration of the interweaving of halakhah and aggadah in the talmudic colloquy on the Shema.AGGADIC DIGRESSION, II. Further illustrations.THE BLESSINGS SURROUNDING THE SHEMA. Their number and formulation. The morning Shema and the evening Shema. Ancient practice and Christian heretics.THE PROBLEM OF INTENTION. The requirement of kawenah in the recital of Shema and the performance of many sacred deeds.THE THREE SECTIONS OF THE SHEMA. Their positions and relative importance. Philosophic significance.THE NEED FOR ARTICULATION. The law’s requirement of pronunciation of the Shema. The Megillah Reading. The Omer.GROOMS AND BRIDEGROOMS. Special cases in the reading of the Shema. Practical vs. religious demands. Priority of observance.CONCLUSION OF CHAPTER IX. Mourning laws. Personal petitions of Amoraim. Aggadic gems.(RABBI LAMM'S COURSE IN TALMUD)This course will not be about Talmud, but in Talmud. It is hoped that a general knowledge of the spirit of the Talmud, its subject matter, and its basic principles will arise naturally from a study of selected texts taken in the sequence in which they appear in the first Tractate. The Aramaic text will be read, then the English translation, and the discussions will be based on the English. Thus, while it is preferable that the student have a reading knowledge of Hebrew, it will be possible for one with no Hebrew training to follow. It is advisable, however, that the student have some elementary knowledge of Jewish life and lore.

Talmudic Analysis

Correspondence

Letter from Elliot Gertel Enclosing Published Article (1973)

April 26, 1973 Mr. Elliot B. Gertel 209 Ruggles Columbia University New York, N.Y. 10027 Dear Elliot: Many, many thanks to you for sending me your splendid essay, which I found most illuminating. I read it during חו״ל and it added to my enjoyment. I am sending along reprints of three of my articles that have some relevance to your theme. The lack of time to comment on your paper in detail makes this the best way for an exchange of ideas – short of actually meeting. I shall indeed be pleased to meet with you and renew our acquaintance. Meanwhile, my very best wishes to your parents and grandparents. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm NL:cw Enc.