YU/Stamford, Conn. Convocation in honor of Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz (1987)

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68th Annual Commencement (1999)

After 22 years of inviting speakers from elsewhere, I decided to deliver the commence-ment address myself this year, in honor of my classmates who today celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Yeshiva College in 1949 – and, of course, in honor of this year’s graduates. I hope you do not think I am compromis-ing your special celebration by taking note of the jubilee anniversary by me and my class-mates. I am reminded of the incident that occurred to one of the most distinguished philosophers of our times, Ludwig Wittgen-stein. He was preparing to take a train at the Oxford Depot in England, and was deep in philosophic conversation with two of his most eminent students—Prof. Hart, and a woman whose name I forgot. At one point, they noticed to their dismay that the train was beginning to pull away from the station, whereupon they all began to run for the train. The two younger scholastics made it just in time, but the older Prof. Wittgenstein was left behind, huffing and puffing, a look of disappointment written all over him. A kindly lady who noticed the professor’s dis-comfort assured him, “Don’t worry, the next train departs in just one hour.” “But you don’t understand,” he replied, “they came to see me off...”So, we have gathered to see you off, and it may sound to you that we are sending the class of ’49 off. But worry not. By the time these ceremonies are over, all of us will have been seen off successfully.I offer you my apologies as well for being the hapless victims upon whom I am visiting my maudlin recollection and gratuitous advice. My only excuse is that years alone endow one with certain privileges, and that half a century from now you probably will inflict similar punishment upon your stu-dents and grandchildren. May you all live that long and longer—in health and happi-ness.Then vs. NowWhat a difference between my graduation and this class! Consider the numbers alone: in 1949, the faculty, both full-time and part-time, consisted of 38 m…

Yeshiva University Jewish Unity

For Greeting to Camp Morasha (1976)

The Prophet Isaiah says two things: "נחמו נחמו עמי" and, later on, "אנכי אנכי הוא מנחמכם." But is this not a contradiction? If the consoler is the prophet, then how can it be God? And if God, how can it be the prophet? The same question reappears in Halakhah. There is a special commandment to be מנחם את האבל – to console the mourner. Yet, when we come to the mourner to console him, we say to him, המקום ינחם אתכם – may God do the consoling. But if God does it, why is there a mitzvah for man to do so? And if man does it, why invoke God? The answer is that the job of consolation cannot be done by either one alone. One who is in mourning, one who is in trouble, one who is in crisis, requires the sympathetic ear and helping hand of his neighbor – and most certainly the help of God. Yeshiva is now in a state of mourning for the late Dr. Belkin. The enormous task and overwhelming challenge to which I have been summoned is one which I cannot do alone – certainly not without God, and also not without the help of all my friends, colleagues, students – not one prophet, but all prophets together have to work on the task.

Three Weeks & Tisha B'Av Yeshiva University Neviim

Chag Hasemicha 5763 (2003)

Rabbi Lamm addresses newly-ordained rabbis at the Chag Hasemicha 5763.

Yeshiva University