Norman Lamm/Temp: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Norman (Nochum) Lamm, or Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, (born, 1927, Brooklyn, USA), major modern Orthodox Judaism rabbi, and Jewish communal leader.

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. A disciple of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik who was Modern Orthodoxy's greatest scholar who ordained him as rabbi at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), the (YU) rabbinical school in 1951.

Youth

In his youth, Lamm attended the Haredi Yeshiva Torah Vodaath yeshiva in Brooklyn. At Yeshiva College (YU) he obtained a degree in Science in 1949, at which he excelled. He also attended a secular post-graduate 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 (the first was Rabbi Dr. Bernard Revel), to join the faculty at YU.

Obtaining his Ph.D. in 1966, his rise was rapid, and from an early stage he was groomed for a leadership role, given his prodigious intellectual, oratorical, and organizational skills, as well as his unswerving loyalty to his alma mater at YU. When he finally took over the institution, he not only saved it from looming bankruptcy, but raised its endowments to previously unheard of record levels.

Dr. Lamm is the eloquent voice for "Centrist Orthodoxy", another name for Modern Orthodoxy, regarding itself as the "center" between the "left wing" branches of Judaism, such as Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism, and the movements of the "right wing" such as Ultra Orthodox Judaism and Hasidism. He is a gifted speaker and writer, and has a vast command of the English language that often dazzles his listeners. His bother, Rabbi Maurice Lamm is also a very talented and gifted rabbi, writer and organizer.

Dr. Lamm is also a major proponent of Torah Umadda, meaning blending the best of "Torah with worldly (secular) knowledge". His admirers in the Modern Orthodox camp strongly favor his views, whereas those on the "right" see it as a betrayal of the "pure sanctity" (taharat hakodesh) of Torah.

Dr. Lamm is a strong believer in modern Zionism, and a strong supporter of the Religious Zionism movements in America and the State of Israel. He is highly regarded and respectd by Israeli politicians and leaders.

Dr. Lamm recently stepped down as President in 2003, and was succeeded by Richard Joel as the fourth YU President, also a graduate of Yeshiva University, the first layman to hold the office, and a former attorney who had lead the Bnai Brith's international Hillel student organization. Richard Joel had once also previously been associate dean and professor at YU's Cardozo Law School and was an assistant district attorney in New York City.

Dr. Lamm has always been a lightning-rod for criticism, and praise, 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 remains undaunted and independent when facing criticisms from outside his camp.

Dr. Lamm still maintains his title as Rosh Yeshiva, ("head of the yeshiva") of YU's rabbinical school so he is still very much both titular and spiritaul head of Modern Orthodox Judaism. He was installed in a new position created for him as Chancellor of Yeshiva University in 2003. He continues to play a crucial role in the affairs of the institution to which he has devoted his life.