Norman Lamm quotes

In Judaism, there are 613 biblical commandments, and the Talmud says that the chief commandment of all is study. (Norman Lamm)
Judaism is an intellectually based religion, and the single most important theme is that of study. View quote
Norman Lamm
No religious position is loyally served by refusing to consider annoying theories which may well turn out to be facts. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
Norman Lamm
I was not the midwife of the Law School, but its fraternal twin. View quote
Norman Lamm
Mutual commitment to ideals -- yes; the stifling of all dissenting notions -- no. View quote
Norman Lamm
This principle of unity of the whole along with respect for individual differences is symbolized ... in the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. View quote
Norman Lamm
Group action - yes; group thinking - no. (Norman Lamm)
... a moral consideration of the utmost importance for us: we must respect individual differences, yet we must coordinate, work together, and act as one. View quote
Norman Lamm
Each of us must have tucked away in some corner of his and her brain a contrarian -- or ipkha mistabra -- compartment whose function it is to seek out views other than those we readily consent to because they swarm around us. The devil's advocate can well turn out to be an angelic emissary. And swimming against the stream may be the best way to avoid drowning. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
Norman Lamm
As a result of this article, I was invited to testify in the Senate Judiciary Committee on privacy law. View quote
Norman Lamm
However, the word madda in modern Hebrew specifically means science. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. (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. View quote
Norman Lamm