By Rabbi Norman Lamm, zt”l February 1968 In the lexicon of religious polemics of this decade, a place of special distinction must be accorded to a relative newcomer: “Fundamentalism.” Once upon a time, this word merely denoted a certain Christian sect. Today, however, it is fashionable to use this particular word in order to defame Orthodox […]
By Rabbi Norman Lamm, zt”l January 1976 The conclusion is inescapable: this is a crazy world. Sometimes I question if we are not all in the grip of a mass psychosis. Consider the mad scene of international affairs: the United Nations, an organization supposedly devoted to the pursuit of world peace, hails a gun-toting gangster; the […]
By Rabbi Norman Lamm, zt’l January 1964 There is a remarkable contrast between the key verses of the haftarah of last week and the one we read this morning. Last week, we read of the prophet Ezekiel addressing the Pharaoh of the Egypt of his day. Even in predicting Pharaoh’s downfall, the Prophet seems awed by […]
By Rabbi Norman Lamm, zt”l January 1976 After the plague of locusts, Pharaoh calls Moses and Aaron in and tells them in an exasperated fashion, “Go and sacrifice to your G-d in the land.” He is anxious to rid himself of the plague, and in return he is willing to grant freedom of worship to the […]
By Rabbi Norman Lamm, zt’l January 1974 Last week, I discussed the “mood” in Israel, and reported that it was mixed: shock and sadness had replaced some of the old ebullience. And yet I found resolve, determination, and hope. There was a dejection, but no despair; they were concerned, but not hopeless. Today I would like […]