(Leading American Orthodox rabbi and thinker, 1903-1993). Autograph Letter Signed, in English (dated in Hebrew) on personal letterhead. Concerning the question of instructing girls in the study of Talmud

SOLOVEITCHIK, JOSEPH B.

Roxbury, Mass.

January 23rd, 1953

A MOST IMPORTANT LETTER. In this letter to Rabbi [Leonard] Rosenfeld, intent on learning the Rov's opinion as to the permissibilty of teaching Talmud to girls, Rabbi Soloveitchik declines to present his view. The reason given is as follows: "We have reached a stage at which party lines and political ideologies influence our Halachic thinking to the extent that people cannot rise above partisan issues to the level of Halacha-objectivity. Some are in a perennial quest for "liberalization" of the Law and its subordination to the majority opinion of a political legislative body, while others would like to see the Halacha fossilized and completely shut out of life. I am not inclined to give any of these factions an opportunity for nonsensical debates."