Norman Lamm Quotations

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.

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

Group action - yes; group thinking - no

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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