From the Rav’s Desk – Q&A’s on Tefilas Haderech and more

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On the road versus within the city:[1] Tefilas Haderech is to be recited after leaving the city and its outskirts, which is defined as the area within 70 Amos from the city. One is not to say it while still within the city or its outskirts even if he has already began his travel. If one recited it while still in the city, after having decided to travel and preparing to leave, then he fulfills his obligation and is not to repeat it once he leaves the city that day. [If, however, he did not leave that day, or had not yet prepared himself to leave when he recited the prayer, then he must repeat the prayer upon traveling.]

[1] Admur 110:6

Is it true that the Rebbe Rashab was clinically depressed?

It is recorded that when the Rebbe Rashab was in his early 40s he went through a period of “Nemichus Haruach” which is literally translated as a low spirit [i.e. sadness]. [Interestingly, this is the typical age that an individual goes through a midlife crisis which is often seen as a period of self-reflection, questioning, and emotional turmoil that can come in middle adulthood.] This does not however connote depression or clinical depression, for which the word in Hebrew is Atzvus. Now, while it is possible to argue based on the context of the story that there was some stage or level of depression present, there is no proof that this is the case, and that the Rebbe Rashab actually suffered from this medical condition. Accordingly, I would dismiss this diagnosis of the Rebbe Rashab as rumor and gossip at worst, and as speculation at best. One thing is for certain that this entire episode lasted within a single year, and therefore to state that the Rebbe Rashab suffered from clinical depression which can be interpreted as a lifetime battle, is simply inaccurate.

 

See Reshimos Hyaoman p. 229; Toras Menachem 33:431; Admurei Chabad Veyahadus Austria p. 78

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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