Daily Tanya Monday 18th Kisleiv Kuntrus Achron 9: A Call to Strengthen Torah, Prayer, and Shabbos

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18th Kisleiv

Kuntrus Achron 9: A Call to Strengthen Torah, Prayer, and Shabbat

  1. The Mitzvah of Reproof
  • The Alter Rebbe cites “You shall surely reprove your comrade—even one hundred times” to justify his heartfelt plea.
  • He cries out with compassion: “Have pity on your souls!”—urging vigilance in Torah study and prayer with proper intent.

  1. Proper Conduct in Prayer
  • All worshippers should pray in unison, word by word, avoiding idle chatter.
  • The main disruption comes from unfit prayer leaders—either those who seize the honor or when no one volunteers.
  • Solution: Appoint fixed, qualified individuals by lot or majority consent:
    • Pray audibly, at a moderate pace.
    • Avoid extremes—neither dragging nor rushing.
    • Gather around them those who pray aloud, not whispering.

  1. Strengthening Communal Torah Study
  • Complete the entire Talmud annually:
    • Divide tractates by lot or consent.
    • Each synagogue should participate; smaller congregations should join larger ones.
  • Each participant should also recite Psalm 119 weekly.

  1. Observing Shabbat Properly
  • Shabbat observance brings forgiveness, but only “according to its law”—requiring knowledge of its halachot.
  • Avoid idle talk on Shabbat; speech about material affairs contradicts its sanctity.
  • External aspect: Ceasing physical work, as G‑d did.
  • Internal aspect: Cleaving to G‑d through prayer and Torah study (“It is Shabbat to the L‑rd your G‑d”).
  • Inner “observing”: Refraining from mundane speech, paralleling G‑d’s cessation of creative utterances.

Key Takeaway

The Alter Rebbe’s passionate appeal emphasizes:

  • Unity and reverence in prayer.
  • Commitment to Torah study—especially completing the Talmud annually.
  • True Shabbat observance—both in action and intention. These practices refine the soul, elevate the community, and fulfill the ultimate purpose of creation: to serve G‑d in truth and holiness.

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.