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Norman Lamm Quotes

Rabbi

Born in December 19, 1927, Rabbi Norman Lamm is an esteemed figure in the Jewish community. He has made significant contributions to Jewish education, theology, and public affairs.

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Famous Norman Lamm Quotes

“However, the word madda in modern Hebrew specifically means science.”

Mean Modern Hebrew

Author:Norman Lamm

“I was critical of the Israeli government, however, for not being prepared for the move. One does not uproot thousands of people without planning in advance what will be done with them. This was a political and human error in which the government functioned poorly.”

People Humans Doe Done Government Moving Political Errors Prepared Critical Planning Israeli Human Error

Author:Norman Lamm

“My mother, whose family was heavily rabbinic, said she wanted me to continue the family tradition in the rabbinate. My father said he wanted me to be a scholar of the Talmud, but he wanted me to make my living in science.”

Said Wanted Mother Father Tradition Scholar Family Tradition

Author:Norman Lamm

“To appeal to contemporary man to revert, in this twentieth century, to a pagan-like nature worship in order to restrain technology from further encroachment and devastation of the resources of nature, is a piece of atavistic nonsense.”

Men Order Technology Pieces Century Worship Resources Contemporary Appeals Nonsense Twentieth Century Pagan Devastation Encroachment

Book:Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought

Source: Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought

“No religious position is loyally served by refusing to consider annoying theories which may well turn out to be facts.”

Wells May Facts Turns Religious Position Theory Annoying Annoyed

Book:Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought

Source: Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought

“Judaism is an intellectually based religion, and the single most important theme is that of study.”

Important Study Theme Judaism

Author:Norman Lamm

“In Judaism, there are 613 biblical commandments, and the Talmud says that the chief commandment of all is study.”

Study Chiefs Biblical Commandments Judaism

Author:Norman Lamm

“As far as YU faculty and students are concerned, the love for Israel is very strong. Probably about three thousand of our graduates have settled in Israel. On average, every year 650 male and female students study in Israel for a minimum of one year.”

Years Three Strong Study Students Thousand Concerned Female Males Average Israel Faculty Graduates Very Strong Minimum

Author:Norman Lamm

“At Cardozo, study of law is part of a larger culture. You can get a law degree and make a good living, but it is best that you do that having studied the discipline for its own inherent merit, because you love studying.”

Law Culture Study Discipline Degrees Merit Inherent Good Living

Author:Norman Lamm

“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.”

Ifs Needs May Found Modern Authority Ancient Bother Dogma Conventional Tested

Book:Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought

Source: Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish Thought

“Group action - yes; group thinking - no”

Thinking Action Groups

Book:Seventy Faces: Articles of Faith

Source: Seventy Faces: Articles of Faith

“Mutual commitment to ideals - yes; the stifling of all dissenting notions - no.”

Commitment Ideals Notion Mutual Stifling

Book:Seventy Faces: Articles of Faith

Source: Seventy Faces: Articles of Faith

“This principle of unity of the whole along with respect for individual differences is symbolized in the Mishkan, the Tabernacle.”

Whole Individual Differences Principles Unity Individual Differences

Author:Norman Lamm

“Most Modern Orthodox are religious Zionists. Despite all differences and nuances among us, we consider the founding of the State a historic change. We accept it as something that came from Providence.”

States Differences Religious Accepting Modern Despite Orthodox Providence Founding Historic Nuance Zionist

Author:Norman Lamm

“I was not the midwife of the Law School, but its fraternal twin.”

School Law Twins Law School Midwife Fraternal

Author:Norman Lamm

“Maimonides taught that it is better that 10 criminals go free than let one innocent man be executed. The Innocence Project represents that point of view.”

Men Views Taught Projects Point Of View Criminals Innocent Innocence Innocent Man

Author:Norman Lamm

“As a result of this article, I was invited to testify in the Senate Judiciary Committee on privacy law.”

Law Results Privacy Articles Senate Committees Invited Judiciary

Author:Norman Lamm

“I showed that privacy was an implicit right in Jewish law, probably going back to the second or third century, when it was elaborated on in a legal way.”

Way Law Century Thirds Privacy Implicit Jewish Law

Author:Norman Lamm

“Most students have thoughts about emigrating to Israel. A significant number go on aliyah. We are proud of our Israel programs, which come at a considerable cost to the university.”

Numbers Students Goes On Proud Cost Program University Israel Significant Significant Numbers Emigrating

Author:Norman Lamm

“Modern Orthodoxy has a highly positive attitude toward the State of Israel. Our Ultra-Orthodox brethren recognize only the Holy Land, but not the state.”

States Attitude Modern Land Holy Israel Positive Attitude Orthodox Orthodoxy Brethren Keep A Positive Attitude Ultras Holy Land

Author:Norman Lamm

“Not all Modern Orthodox Jews, at the present juncture, identify with what the Israeli government does. In Israel many religious Zionists strongly oppose the government because of the disengagement.”

Doe Government Religious Modern Jew Israel Orthodox Israeli Zionist Juncture Disengagement

Author:Norman Lamm

About the Author

Born: December 19, 1927
Known for: Rabbi
Quotes: 21

Books & Sources

Faith and Doubt: Studies in Traditional Jewish ThoughtRelated source material

Seventy Faces: Articles of FaithRelated source material

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