Teachings and Halachic rulings of the Rebbe Rayatz

Teachings and Halachic rulings of the Rebbe Rayatz:

The Rebbe Rayatz was arguably one of the most prolific authors of all of the Rabbeim, leaving us with many teachings which have revolutionized both our service of God, and our practice in Jewish observance. Particularly, the teachings and directives of the Rebbe Rayatz served as a foundation stone for the establishment of Chabad custom, and many of the most famous and prolific customs of Chabad Lubavitch derive from him. In this limited article we will review a number of these contributions.

1. Avodas Hashem:

Humility brings joy while pride causes depression:[1] Unlike the common misconception, that the more you have the happier you are, in truth it is specifically feelings of humility within a person that lead him to feel satisfied with what he has and leads to happiness, while self pride and arrogance lead one to feel depressed and broken. This can be seen regarding the snake who is the epitome of pride and arrogance, and is thereby always depressed. The point is that ego and feeling of self leads to automatic depression even if he lacks nothing, while humility and self effacement leads to happiness.

Bitachon regarding the problems of others:[2] The attribute of trust is only considered virtuous when it is regarding one’s personal problems and challenges. However, one should never exercise trust in G-d regarding the problems of another individual. Rather, one must do all in his power to help them and assist them in their issue. It goes without saying that the virtuous idiom of Gam Zu Litova should not be expressed regarding the problems of another individual, but rather only regarding those of one’s own.

1. Halacha & Minhag:

Orach Chaim -When to recite Birchas Hashachar:[3] It is the Chabad custom to recite all the morning blessings at home, immediately upon awakening, before leaving to Shul. This includes the blessing of Birchas Hatorah. One is not to delay the blessings until he goes to Mikveh. If one delays the blessings, he has forfeited the proper time of obligation and his recital is a mere matter of Tashlumin.[4]

The position of the knot of the Daled of the head Tefillin:[5] It is recorded in the name of the Rebbe Rayatz that the upper half of the Daled is to be placed on the bone of the skull while the lower half by the nape under the skull.

Kedusha on Shabbos in middle of Pesukei Dezimra: In middle of Pesukei Dezimra one may answer and recite the entire Kedusha.[6] Even the additional parts of Kedusha added on Shabbos and Yom Tov may be recited in Pesukei Dezimra.[7]

The severity of speaking during the Torah reading:[8] From a Mamar of the Rebbe Rayatz on severity of speaking during the Torah reading: It is thus incumbent upon the reader of the Torah to be well versed in all the laws of Kerias Hatorah, as this matter touches one’s very soul. On this the verse states that life and death is in the hands of the tongue. Just as the reward is very great for one who reads the Torah properly, according to law, so too is the great and immense retribution against one who belittles the reading of the Torah properly and does not place vast effort to know all the tunes of the reading. One who does not do so is Heaven forbid considered like one who causes the masses, which are the listeners of his incorrect reading, to sin. On this the verse states that life and death is in the hands of the tongue. Now, this likewise applies to those that listen to the reading of the Torah, that they need to listen to the reading from a Sefer that is in their hands, and they need to hear each and every word. It is known the great and immense consequences in this world and the next to those who are not careful in this. It is explained in Sefarim that listening to the Torah reading properly affects the blessings one receives in Banaiy/children; Chayaiy/Health; and Mezoni/Parnasa. One who demeans the listening of the Torah is a brazen person which expels the king from his own palace. One who speaks to a friend is causing the masses to sin and increases Heaven forbid and Heaven forefend, death and poverty amongst the Jewish people. 

Saying Lamnatzeiach after Davening:[9] The Rebbe Rayatz instituted on the 2nd of Nissan 5704 that on days in which Tachanun, and Lamnatzeiach of Uva Letziyon is omitted, then it is made up and recited after Davening, prior to the recital of the daily Tehillim.

Mincha past Shekia:[10] Although many are accustomed like the Poskim who permit to pray Mincha after sunset for the sake of Davening with a Minyan[11], practically the custom should follow the approach in Poskim to Daven Mincha in private before sunset rather than with a Minyan after sunset as so was done by the Rebbe Rashab[12] and Rebbe Rayatz[13] and Rebbe[14], as well as vintage Chabad Chassidim[15], and so was the directive of the Rebbe Rayatz[16] and the Rebbe[17] to an individual. Practically, however, this latter approach should only be followed by the individual if it will not cause the Shul Minyan to be nullified.[18]

Apple in honey on Rosh Hashana:[19] The Chabad custom, based on a directive of the Rebbe Rayatz, is to recite the Yehi Ratzon on the apple immediately after reciting the blessing of Haeitz, prior to eating the apple.

Yoreh Deah – Learning Tanach:[20] From a letter of the Rebbe Rayatz on the importance of studying Tanach: “To the directorship of the Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim, it is very painful that even the students do not have any knowledge in Scripture, and majority of them do not even know Chumash with Rashi. They have no comprehension of the Nevi’im or Kesuvim. To see this strange phenomenon for yourself, all you have to do is have one of the members of the staff ask the students to translate a certain verse in Scripture or describe a certain event in the prophets. It is a shame for a yeshiva student to not know Tanach with the meaning of the words. The Chassidim, even the mediocre ones, were experts in Tanach and they had a set Seder to study it each day after studying their lesson of Mishnayos after the morning prayers. They would do their daily study of Tanakh while they were folding their Tallis and tefillin in a way that they would finish the entire Tanach in a three-month span.”

The Keria of the Rebbe Rayatz:[21] When the Rebbe Rayatz visited Yerushalyim he performed Keria, and recited the blessing of Baruch Dayan Haemes without Hashem’s name.

Even Haezer – Influencing gentile spouse to convert: In a case that one knows a couple of whom one of the spouses is not Jewish, and one is unable to persuade them to leave each other, one should see if it is possible to encourage or persuade the non-Jewish person involved to properly convert in a Kosher manner and become an observant Jew. While in perhaps the clear majority of cases the gentile in question, even if he agrees to convert, is not committed to lead a true life of Torah observance, in which case the conversion is invalid, and the gentile remains a gentile[22], nevertheless, there are cases in which the gentile sincerely becomes a Ger Tzedek, and leads a Kosher Jewish life with his/her Jewish spouse. Many Poskim[23], as well as the Chabad Rabbeim[24], encouraged one to help covert such a gentile, if he will be sincere and committed to Torah observance.

Choshen Mishpat – A Chassid does not hit a child:[25] The Rebbe Rayatz once related: A father who hits his child may be a Tzadik, compassionate and righteous, although a Chassid he is not, as a Chasid does not hit.

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[1] Sefer Hamamarim 5710 p. 238 “Vayasfu Anavim Behavaya”

[2] Igros Kodesh Rayatz 3 p. 76 in name of Baal Shem Tov “However to use the attribute of Bitachon on another person is a transgression. If one sees that his friend is suffering from something and he says that certainly Hashem will help him, this is a great evil, and rather the person must exert effort in praying and requesting mercy on behalf of that individual.”

[3] Sefer Hasichos 1904 p. 20; Igros Kodesh 19:390; 18:277; Shulchan Menachem 1:6; In Sefer Hasichos ibid the Rebbe Rayatz brings from Reb Aba Person that by us [Chabad Chassidim] the custom is to always say the morning blessings at home. However Poilisher Chassidim are accustomed to say it in Shul. The Rebbe further emphasizes this Chabad custom in his letters printed above.

[4] 71:1 as explained in Ketzos Hashulchan 5 footnote 19; Igros Kodesh 18:277

[5] Koveitz Likkutei Dinim of Rav Greenglass

[6] See Admur 66:2; Ketzos Hashulchan 18:2 footnote 8

[7] Directive of Rebbe Rayatz; See Ketzos Hashulchan 18:2 footnote 8 and 19:2 that on Shabbos and Yom Tov one may not say the stanzas that are added into the Kedusha for these days.

[8] Sefer Hamamarim 1937 p. 263

[9] Sefer Hammarim 1948 p. 268

[10] See Hearos Ubiurim Ohalei Torah 963 p. 152 [Rav Label Shapiro]; 964; 971 p. 64; 975 p. 65; 1073 p. 89 [Rav Ginzberg]; Hiskashrus p. 65

[11] As apparent from the story in Likkutei Dibburim 1:79 that the other Chassidim did Daven after sunset with a Minyan and as testified by the person in Yechidus to the Rebbe in Hiechal Menachem ibid; Sichas Hashavua ibid

[12] Likkutei Dibburim 1:79 that so did Rebbe Rashab that he Davened Beyechudius before sunset, rather than delay until later

[13] Rav Zalman Shimon Dworkin relates that he personally witnessed that the Rebbe Rayatz was also stringent in this matter and once Davened Beyechidus before sunset during the Shiva for his father rather than wait for the 10^th man, and that so he would direct those who would ask him. [Hearos Ubiurim Ohalei Torah 971 p. 65; 975 p. 65; 1073 p. 89]

[14] When he would return from the Ohel late, he would stop by the side to Daven Mincha before sunset, even though it was Beyechidus [See Hearos Ubiurim Ohalei Torah 963 p. 153]

[15] Rav Yaakov Landau and Rav Yitzchak Dubov; See Hearos Ubiurim Ohalei Torah 964:82 [Testimony of Rav Chaim Rappaport] and 1073 p. 89

[16] See Hearos Ubiurim vol 975 p. 65

[17] See Heichal Menachem 3:235 that in reply to a question of an individual in Yechidus the Rebbe replied of whether he should follow the opinion of the Mishneh Berurah ibid, that he should continue with his custom of following the Mishneh Berurah to Daven Beyechidus before sunset, unlike the common Chassidic custom; Hearos Ubiurim Ohalei Torah 963; 964; 971; 975; 1073 p. 89; Hiskashrus p. 65

[18] See Hearos Ubiurim Ohalei Torah 964 p. 81-82 and 971 p. 65

[19] Igros Kodesh 3:140 [brought in Shaareiy Halacha Uminhag 2:239; Shulchan Menachem 3:86]; Sefer Haminhagim p. 118; Hayom Yom p. 92; Reshimos 4 p. 8 [Was the custom of Rebbe Rayatz and Rebbe Rashab. The Rebbe Rayatz told the Rebbe that it is a directive for the public and it was therefore publicized in Hayom Yom.] See Otzer Minhagei Chabad 138

[20] Igros Kodesh 6:151

[21] Masa Harebbe Lieretz Hakodesh 7; See Hiskashrus 262; To quote from Sefer Hatoldos “at 9:10 in the morning the Rebbe arrived to Beitar and at 9:30 he saw Jerusalem for his first time, at which time he performed Keriah as required and said the blessing of Dayan Haemes” and from Masa Harebbe Laeretz Hakodesh “upon approaching the Western Wall in which thousands of Jews waited for him, the Rebbe performed Keria on his upper clothing” and from the daily Ha’aretz newspaper “when he came near the Western Wall the Admur tore his upper clothing”

[22] See Igros Moshe Y.D. 1/157-159; 3/106

[23] See Mishpitei Uziel 2/53; Mayim Chaim 2/108; Milameid Lehoil Y.D. 83; Achiezer 3/26 and 28; Tuv Taam Vadaas Kama 230; Teshuvas Harmabam in Peir Hador 132

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one is not to encourage or accept such conversions, due to the ruling in Michaber Y.D. 268. [See Kiryat Chana 2/17; Igros Moshe Y.D. 1/157-159; 3/106; Tzitz Eliezer 5/15]

[24] See Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz volume 9 letter 3268 and 3271 that one is to encourage the gentile to convert; Rabbi Leibal Groner wrote to me that “Numerous times the rebbe encouraged that the non Jewish individual should be megayer kehalocho before the marriage or if it was not done before to do it as soon as possible.” 

[25] Sefer Hasichos 5704 p. 15