127 —ביקור בתלמוד תורה, מאמרים קצרים, וחשיבות פסוקי דזמרה

B"H, Tuesday, 29 Teves 5704.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 18th of Teves: A) Regarding the tzt"z, it is worthwhile to urge the teacher to visit the melach, as he has not yet been here. Also, please inform us of the address of the tzt"z and of the teacher. B) You can find short essays and ideas on topics you desire in the collection "Hayom Yom," in the Pesach 5703 sichah, etc. C) Regarding Minchah on Erev Shabbos: According to the directive of my father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, it is proper to pray Minchah Gedolah with a congregation and not Minchah Ketana individually. D) As for your comment about reciting Pesukei Dezimra: It is a clear halachah (Berachos 32a), "A person should always arrange praise of the Omnipresent and then pray," as we learn from Moshe, etc. Therefore they instituted saying Pesukei Dezimra before prayer so that one stands in prayer with joy from performing a mitzvah. This enactment is brought in all books of the Geonim, commentators on Shas, and poskim. Therefore, one who belittles reciting Pesukei Dezimra belittles an enactment accepted by Torah giants and halachic authorities in every generation—people upon whom all Israel relies—including Rav Amram Gaon, Rav Saadiah Gaon, Rav Natronai Gaon, Rav Moshe Gaon, Rif, Rabbeinu Yonah, Rashi, Rambam, Rashba, Ramban, Sefer Mitzvos Gadol (SMaG), Sefer Mitzvos Katan (SMaK), Tur, Beis Yosef (B"Y), Rema, Bach, Levush, Taz, Magen Avraham (MGA), and many more. The fact that after-the-fact they permitted skipping parts of Pesukei Dezimra for communal prayer (and only according to conditions explained in Shulchan Aruch) does not relate to your question at all. The reason is explicit: Pesukei Dezimra was instituted so that prayer would be desirable and accepted; through communal prayer one's prayer is certainly accepted (and there is an additional reason—since the congregation already said Pesukei Dezimra and he includes himself with them). Since this is only after-the-fact when it is impossible to do both (and likewise if he cannot even say Baruch She'amar and Yishtabach), he skips and prays with the congregation. The later authorities have ruled that after praying one should say everything skipped except for the blessings—that is Baruch She'amar and Yishtabach—but ideally everyone must urge themselves so as not to need to skip anything; this is obvious. One who deliberately acts contrary to this and belittles rabbinic enactments and Jewish custom—their status is clearly stated in Mishnah and Gemara etc., and there is no need to elaborate.

With blessings for immediate teshuvah and immediate redemption.

Summary

The Rebbe stresses diligence in mitzvah observance—especially regarding communal practices like Pesukei Dezimra—and encourages seeking guidance from established sources while upholding communal standards with care.