Rabbi Dr. Norman (Nachum) Lamm, (born 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, United States), is a major American Modern Orthodox Jewish communal leader. He is presently the Chancellor of Yeshiva University. Official PUBLIC portrait of Rabbi Lamm This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... NY redirects here. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy; sometimes abbreviated as MO or Modox) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular, modern world. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Chancellor (disambiguation). ... Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ...

He was the third President of Yeshiva University (YU), and the first to be born in the USA. He also holds a Ph.D. in Jewish philosophy. He is a disciple of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (Modern Orthodoxy's most influential scholar), who ordained him as a Rabbi at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS, the YU rabbinical school) in 1951. Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City whose first component was founded in 1886. ... Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated Ph. ... Jewish philosophy refers to the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish theology. ... Rav Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov, Yoshe Ber) Soloveitchik (Hebrew: ) () was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. ... Semicha (Hebrew: ‎, leaning [of the hands]), also semichut (Hebrew: ‎, ordination), or semicha lerabbanut (Hebrew: ‎, rabbinical ordination) is derived from a Hebrew word which means to rely on or to be authorized. It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. ... Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary or RIETS (Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan) is the most important yeshiva component of Yeshiva University. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Youth

In his youth, Lamm attended the Haredi yeshiva Torah Vodaath in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. At Yeshiva College (YC, the forerunner of YU) he obtained a degree in Science in 1949, at which he excelled. He was the secular studies valedictorian of his class. He also attended a secular postgraduate college, the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He considered a career in science, but was persuaded by Rabbi Dr. Samuel Belkin, the second President of Yeshiva University (successor of Rabbi Dr. Bernard Revel), to join the faculty at YU. Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... Yeshiva Torah Vodaas (or Mesivta Torah Vodaas) is a Haredi yeshiva located in Brooklyn, New York, founded by Binyamin Wilhelm, author of Nidchei Yisroel, a guide for new Jewish immigrants. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Polytechnic University (Poly), located in the Borough of Brooklyn in New York City, is the United States second oldest private technology university, having been founded in 1854. ... Samuel Belkin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Bernard (Dov) Revel was an Orthodox rabbi and scholar. ...

Career

Lamm spent 25 years as a pulpit rabbi. He served as rabbi at the West Side Jewish Center in Midtown Manhattan (1952-54), rabbi of Congregation Kodimoh in Springfield, MA, and assistant rabbi at New York City's Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.

He obtained his Ph.D. in 1966, and was elected President of Yeshiva University in August, 1976. When he took over the institution he helped save it from looming bankruptcy and raised its endowments. Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration - see text) in the UK. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organizations to pay their...

Theology

As a Modern Orthodox Jew, Lamm's theology somewhat resembles the corpus of classical rabbinic Jewish principles of faith. While not demanding that every Jew literally accept each of Maimonides' 13 principles of faith, the faith that he preaches and teaches is consonant with these teachings. He believes that God exists, that God can reveal his will to mankind, and that the Torah (five books of Moses) is (plus or minus scribal errors) an exact transcription of God's revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai. As an Orthodox Jew, he believed that Judaism's oral law, as recorded in the Mishnah and Talmud, represent an accurate and authoritative understanding of how God wants mankind to understand the Hebrew Bible. Like all Orthodox Jews, he holds that halakha, loosely translated as "Jewish law", is normative and binding on all Jews. However, like most Orthodox Jews, he holds that Jews should not be forced to follow halakha; rather, Jews need to be educated about halakha and convinced that it is a code of life that Jews should indeed live by. There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Revelation This article is about prophecy. ... “Tora” redirects here. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... View from the summit of Mount Sinai Sinai Peninsula, showing location of Jabal Musa Mount Sinai (Arabic: طور سيناء), also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gebel Musa or Jabal Musa (Moses Mountain) by the Bedouins, is the name of a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula. ... An oral law is a code of conduct in use in a given culture, religion or other regroupement, by which a body of rules of human behaviour is transmitted by oral tradition and effectively respected, or the single rule that is orally transmitted. ... The Mishnah (Hebrew משנה, repetition) is a major source of rabbinic Judaisms religious texts. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... Tanakh (‎) (also Tanach, IPA: or , or Tenak) is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ...

Torah Umadda

Dr. Lamm is a major proponent of the idea of "Torah Umadda" - "Torah and science or more generally the environing culture of our days" - a philosophical paradigm which aims at "synthesizing" Torah learning and secular knowledge. Dr. Lamm argues that the underlying philosophy of Torah Umadda can be traced back to the Talmud and to Maimonides and that it is inspired by the work of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch in the mid 19th century in response to the Enlightenment. He claims that Torah Umadda and Hirsch's Torah im Derech Eretz are to a large extent complementary - both value the acquisition of secular knowledge and both demand adherence to halakha. Torah Umadda (Hebrew: תורה ומדע, Torah and secular knowledge) is a philosophy of Modern Orthodox Judaism, concerning the interrelationship between the secular world and Judaism, and in particular between secular knowledge and Jewish knowledge. ... “Tora” redirects here. ... Since the late 1960s, the word paradigm (IPA: ) has referred to a thought pattern in any scientific discipline or other epistemological context. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Maimonides (March 30, 1135 or 1138–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain, Morocco and Egypt during the Middle Ages. ... Rabbi S.R. Hirsch Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Age of Enlightenment (French: ; German: ) was an eighteenth-century movement in European and American philosophy, or the longer period including the Age of Reason. ... Torah im Derech Eretz (Hebrew תורה עם דרך ארץ - Torah with the way of the land) is a philosophy of Orthodox Judaism articulated by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), which formalizes a relationship between traditionally observant Judaism and the modern world. ... Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ...

Centrist Orthodoxy

Dr. Lamm is a well known voice of "Centrist Orthodoxy" (which is used in distinction from Modern Orthodoxy) regarding itself as the "center" between the "left wing" branches of Orthodox Judaism, such as the leftmost fringe of Modern Orthodoxy and Rabbi Avi Weiss's "Open Orthodoxy," and the movements of the "right wing" such as Haredi Judaism. Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy; sometimes abbreviated as MO or Modox) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular, modern world. ... Rabbi Avraham Weiss (usually known as Avi Weiss or Rav Avi) is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi who heads the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Bronx, New York. ... Haredi or chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ...

Relationship with non-Orthodox Judaism

Lamm is a strong critic of Reform Judaism's attempt to unilaterally redefine Jewishness. In response to their declaration that a person can be considered Jewish with only a Jewish father, and not a Jewish mother, Lamm stated that this was "The single most irresponsible act in contemporary Jewish history." (Landau, P.292) Nonetheless, he has worked over the years to keep lines of communication open between Orthodox and Reform Judaism, in the hopes that Jewish unity can be maintained. Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ...

Lamm was a proponent of working with Reform and Conservative Judaism in the now-defunct Synagogue Council of America. The Synagogue Council of America was an organization of American Jewish synagogue associations, founded in 1926, including : The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox) The Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox) The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (Conservative) The Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative) The Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Reform...

While strongly disagreeing with the theology and religious practices of non-Orthodox forms of Judaism, Rabbi Lamm has been one of the most outspoken leaders in Orthodoxy for cooperation with Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism. In the 1980s Lamm, along with other American and Israeli Orthodox rabbis, worked with Conservative and Reform rabbis to come up with solution to the "Who is a Jew?" issue. In 1989 and 1990 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir spearheaded an effort to create a solution to the "Who is a Jew?" issue. A plan was developed by Lamm, and Shamir appointed Israeli Cabinet Secretary Elyakim Rubenstein, who negotiated secretly for many months with rabbis from Conservative, Reform and Orthodox Judaism, including faculty at Yeshiva University, with Lamm as Rosh ha-Yeshiva. They were planning to create a joint panel that interviewed people who were converting to Judaism and considering making aliyah (moving to the State of Israel), and would refer them to a bet din that would convert the candidate following traditional halakha. All negotiating parties came to agreement: (1) Conversions must be carried out according to halakha, (2) the bet din (rabbinic court) overseeing the conversion would be Orthodox, perhaps appointed by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and (3) there would be a Committee consisting of representatives of all three groups to interview potential converts as to their sincerity. Many Reform rabbis took offense at the notion that the bet din must be strictly halakhic and Orthodox, but they acquiesced. However, when word about this project became public, a number of leading haredi rabbis issued a statement denouncing the project, condemning it as a "travesty of halakha". Rabbi Moshe Sherer, Chairman of Agudath Israel World Organization, stated that "Yes we played a role in putting an end to that farce, and I'm proud we did." Norman Lamm condemned this interference by Sherer, stating that this was "the most damaging thing that he [Sherer] ever did in his forty year career." (Landau, p.320) Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ...   (Hebrew יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר) (born October 15, 1915) was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992. ...

Lamm wanted this to be only the beginning of a solution to Jewish disunity. He stated that had this unified conversion plan not been destroyed, he wanted to extend this program to the area of halakhic Jewish divorces, thus ending the problem of mamzerut. (Landau, p.320)

In 1997 the issue of "Who is a Jew?" again arose in the State of Israel, and Lamm publicly backed the Neeman commission, a group of Orthodox, Masorti (Conservative) and Progressive (Reform) rabbis working to develop joint programs for conversion to Judaism. In 1997 he gave a speech at the World Council of Orthodox Leadership, in Glen Springs, N.Y., urging Orthodox Jews to support this effort. Masorti means traditional in Hebrew. ...

Lamm told his listeners that they should value and encourage the efforts of non-Orthodox leaders to more seriously integrate traditional Jewish practices into the lives of their followers. They should welcome the creation of Reform and Conservative day schools and not see them as a threat to their own, Lamm said. In many communities, Orthodox day schools, or Orthodox-oriented community day schools, have large numbers of students from non-Orthodox families. The liberal movements should be appreciated and encouraged because they are doing something Jewish, even if it is not the way that Orthodox Jews would like them to, he said. "What they are doing is something, and something is better than nothing," he said in his speech. "I'm very openly attacking the notion that we sometimes find in the Orthodox community that `being a goy is better'" than being a non-Orthodox Jew, he said in an interview.

(Source: Cohen, 1997)

In his speech Seventy Faces he warns his listeners that there will be an "unbridgeable and cataclysmic rupture within the Jewish community" unless Jews from all the denominations, including Orthodoxy, listen to each other and try and find a way to work together. In this speech (now an essay) he rejects maximal ideas of religious pluralism, especially relativism. He denies that non-Orthodox Jews have halakhic legitimacy, explaining that their views on halakha do not have normative status. However he goes onto affirm a moderate form of religious pluralism, and holds that Orthodox Jews must accept that non-Orthodox rabbis are valid Jewish leaders, and possess spiritual dignity. He holds that marriages that are officiated at by non-Orthodox Jews can be halakhically valid, but not so and non-Orthodox divorces. Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews must find ways to work together. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Views on abiogenesis, evolution and science

Originally trained as a scientist, Dr. Lamm has maintained an interest in the interface between science and Judaism. In his 1971 essay The Religious Implications of Extra-Terrestrial Life, Lamm writes about scientific developments concerning abiogenesis and evolution, the creation of life on Earth, and the then developing scientific consensus that life could possibly evolve on other planets outside of our solar system (i.e. extraterrestrial life. He writes Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... This article focuses on the history of thought regarding abiogenesis (the spontaneous generation of life from non-living sources). ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... Major features of the Solar System (not to scale; from left to right): Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, the asteroid belt, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and its Moon, and Mars. ... “Green people” redirects here. ...

...the fact remains that most of the highly respected scientists of our day, eminent in their fields, do believe that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe....No religious position is loyally served by refusing to consider annoying theories which may well turn out to be facts. Torah is "a Torah of truth," and to hide from the facts is to distort that truth into a myth. Of course, it must be repeated that the theories here under discussion have not (yet) been established as true. But they may be: and Judaism will then have to confront them as it has confronted what men have considered the truth throughout the generations.

Maimonides, over eight centuries ago, was faced with the widely accepted Aristotelian theory of the eternity of the universe, which ostensibly contradicted the Biblical conception of creation in time. Maimonides demonstrated that Aristotle had not conclusively proved the eternity of matter, and that since eternity and creation were philosophically equally acceptable alternatives, he preferred to accept creation since this theory was the one apparently taught in Genesis. Nevertheless, Maimonides averred, were the Aristotelian theory convincingly proven, he would have accepted it and reinterpreted the verses in Genesis to accommodate the theory of the eternity of matter.

It is this kind of position which honest men, particularly honest believers in God and Torah, must adopt at all times, and especially in our times. Conventional dogmas, even if endowed with the authority of an Aristotle - ancient or modern - must be tested vigorously. If they are found wanting, we need not bother with them. But if they are found to be substantially correct, we may not overlook them. We must then use the newly discovered truths the better to truly understand our Torah - the "Torah of truth.

Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Maimonides (March 30, 1135 or 1138–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain, Morocco and Egypt during the Middle Ages. ... Aristotle (Greek: Aristotélēs) (384 BC – 322 BC) was a Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. ...

Writings

In 1971 Dr. Lamm wrote Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought, which was released in a second edition in 1986 and a third and up-dated edition in 2007. This book is a personal examination of his religious beliefs.

In the 1980s many in Modern Orthodox Judaism felt battered by criticism from Orthodoxy's theological right-wing. Many Orthodox Jews began to perceive Modern Orthodoxy as less compelling, and possibly less authentic, than Haredi Judaism. As such Dr. Lamm wrote a principled theological defense of Modern Orthodoxy in Torah Umadda: The Encounter of Religious Learning and Wordly Knowledge in the Jewish Tradition and its theology of Torah im Derekh Eretz. Haredi or chareidi Judaism is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ...

In 1999 Dr. Lamm wrote The Religious Thought of Hasidism: Text and Commentary, in which he offered an in-depth history of Hasidic Judaism, the spiritual movement founded in the 18th century by Israel ben Eliezer, better known as the Baal Shem Tov. Through examination of primary sources, Lamm illustrates the development of Hasidic theology, from the 18th to the 20th century. Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc. ... Rabbi Israel (Yisroel) ben Eliezer (רבי ישראל בן אליעזר, c. ...

In 2000 Dr. Lamm wrote The Shema: Spirituality and Law in Judaism for a general audience not familiar with Jewish theology; this work focused on how a proper understanding of Judaism would lead a practitioner to spirituality. This work was a rejoiner to the viewpoint that religious, observant Judaism was dry and legal, as opposed to spiritual and meaningful.

Lamm's brother, Rabbi Maurice Lamm is also a well known rabbi, writer and organizer.

Actively retired

Dr. Lamm recently stepped down as President in 2003, and was succeeded by Richard Joel, who became the fourth President of YU and the first layman to hold the office. He is a former attorney who also led the Bnai Brith's international Hillel student organization. Richard Joel had previously been associate dean and professor at YU's Cardozo Law School and was an assistant district attorney in New York City. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Richard M. Joel (born 1950) is the fourth president of Yeshiva University, a Modern Orthodox Judaism Jewish university with a network of schools, colleges, and universities in New York City. ... An attorney is someone who represents someone else in the transaction of business: For attorney-at-law, see lawyer, solicitor, barrister or civil law notary. ... The Independent Order of Bnai Brith (Hebrew: Sons of the Covenant) is the oldest continually-operating Jewish service organization in the world. ... In an educational setting, a dean is a person with significant authority . ... The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ... Since its founding in 1976 by Yeshiva University, the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law has gained a national reputation for a top-caliber faculty and an innovative academic program. ... A district attorney is, in some U.S. jurisdictions, the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Dr. Lamm was given the active position of Chancellor of YU [1] after 27 years as President. He still maintains his title as Rosh HaYeshiva ("head of the yeshiva") of YU's rabbinical school - RIETS. He was installed in the new position created for him as Chancellor of Yeshiva University in June of 2003. He continues to play a role in the affairs of the institution over which he presided for a quarter century. For other uses, see Chancellor (disambiguation). ... Rosh yeshiva - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary or RIETS (Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan) is the most important yeshiva component of Yeshiva University. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Controversy

Dr. Lamm has always been a lightning-rod for praise but also criticism, the criticism mainly stemming from his handling of controversial issues facing the Jewish community, such as co-operating with the non-Orthodox branches regarding conversions (giur) of gentile spouses to Judaism. He was also a controversial figure within the university, with a group of senior rabbis and rabbinical students breaking away from the Yeshiva in 1999, in a dispute with Lamm. He has written a number of books including perhaps his most controversial, Torah U'Maddah, which was subject to extensive critique when published. Ger tzedek (Hebrew: righteous convert or convert [of] righteousness) or Ger (stranger or convert) or is a gentile (i. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

References

Works by Dr. Lamm

• Norman Lamm The Religious Implications of Extra-Terrestrial Life, Chapter 5 of Faith and Doubt - Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought, (New York, Ktav, 1971)

• Norman Lamm, The Religious Thought of Hasidism: Text and Commentary, Michael Scharf Publication Trust of Yeshiva University, 1999, ISBN 0-88125-440-1

• Norman Lamm, Seventy Faces: Divided we stand, but its time to try an idea that might help us stand taller, Moment Vol. II, No. 6, June 1986 - Sivan 5746

• Norman Lamm, Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought, Ktav; 2nd edition 1986, ISBN 0-88125-000-7

• Norman Lamm, Torah Umadda: The Encounter of Religious Learning and Wordly Knowledge in the Jewish Tradition, Jason Aronson, 1990 ISBN 0-87668-810-5

• Norman Lamm, The Shema: Spirituality and Law in Judaism, Jewish Publication Society of America, 2000, ISBN 0-8276-0713-X

• Norman Lamm, 'Halakhot Va-halikhot', Mosad ha-Rav Kuk, 1990

Jason Aronson is a publisher of books of jewish interest, including titles covering Jewish life, history, theology, genealogy, folklore, holidays, and Hasidic thought. ... The Jewish Publication Society of America was founded in Philadelphia in 1888 to provide the children of Jewish immigrants to America with books about their heritage in the language of the New World. ...

Works relating to Dr. Lamm

• Debra Nussbaum Cohen, Orthodox leader speaks out on Jewish unity, breaking long silence, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, December 5, 1997

• David Landau Piety & Power, 1993, Hill & Wang, NY

External links

• Yeshiva University official website
• Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary official website
• Rabbi Lamm and controversy over gays at YU schools (1995)
• Rabbi Lamm's Eulogy for Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin (1995)
• Response of a supporter to a public criticism by the Haredi leader Rabbi Elya Svei
• Interview with President Norman Lamm (1999)
• Seventy Faces: Divided we stand, but its time to try an idea that might help us stand taller
• Orthodox leader speaks out on Jewish unity, breaking long silence