1424 —משוב על ספר ברכת אברהם והשמטות של צ"צ

B"H, 16 Shevat, 5712.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"m etc. Avraham Yehuda Duchovni

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In due time I received two copies of your sefer Berachot Avraham on the laws of treifot, and thank you for this. In a convenient format and attractive manner, you have presented to learners a collection of halachot from the Rishonim and Acharonim on this subject, and surely the book will benefit many; the merit of the public depends on you.

However, I was greatly surprised that in many places the words of my revered teacher the Admor tzt"z, our rabbi among the leaders of Israel, were not included—even though it appears you saw his works since in some places his words are quoted. I have noted in the margins some of these omissions.

With blessings to engage in Torah and heavenly work with tranquility and proper health as you requested—I have mentioned you and your wife at the holy resting place.

Enclosed are two scripts each for five shekels.

Omissions:

1) The skull bone: Completely missing from your sefer as well as other matters regarding the skull (such as a hole in it—see Acharonim to Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah end of siman 31). Even though you quoted laws about a bone in the heart or lung—see Shu"t tzt"z Choshen Mishpat siman 18:19 and also see Shu"t Be'er Avraham and Shu"t Mishkenot Yaakov.

2) Blister in the lung among non-Jews: In Likutei Yehuda (36:2) it is stated that Shem Chadash (end of siman 37 se'if katan 1) permits. See there that Shem Chadash says that where there is no custom one should be stringent; but tzt"z's Piskei Dinim at beginning of siman 36 permits in salted or bitter cases even without a custom.

3) Redness in lung during examination: See Piskei Dinim at end of siman 38 which permits in great loss (the opinions are discussed in Likkutei Yehuda 243:2, but tzt"z's ruling is not cited).

4) Two bile ducts: See tzt"z's detailed opinion in Shu"t Sha'ar HaMilu'im sections 22–23.

5) Hole in spleen in an ox: In Likkutei Yehuda (Akum, 1) he brings a ruling from Rabbi Kook on this. Tzt"z already preceded him—in Shu"t Choshen Mishpat sections 42–43.

Summary

The Rebbe values diligent Torah scholarship but stresses accuracy and completeness—especially regarding rulings from earlier Rebbes like tzt"z. He encourages careful inclusion of all relevant sources when compiling halachic works.