404 —מנהג אמירת פסוקים בסוף התפלה ומקורותיו

B"H, Eve of Rosh HaShanah 5709.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"m etc. Mehoraz.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

My letter with the booklet for Chai Elul has surely arrived and you have acknowledged its receipt. At the end of the year, as I reviewed your previous letters, I saw your question which I had not yet answered; please forgive the delay for now.

Your question concerns Rashi on Michah 6:9: "And wisdom—fear Your Name. From here we learn that anyone who recites daily a verse that begins and ends as does his name, as does the Torah, saves him from Gehinnom." You ask what Rashi means by this.

The intent is regarding the custom found in several siddurim—and it is also the Chabad custom—to recite daily a verse that begins and ends as above. However, we add to Rashi's explanation and say this verse at the end of Elokai Netzor in prayer; that is, sometimes daily.

For now I have found this custom in: Sefer HaZechirah vol. 1, Siman Avodat Yisrael Leva'er (also for women!), Siman Nehora HaShalem, and others. But so far I have not found it in Shelah nor at the end of Kitzur Shelah nor in Siman Yaavetz, though some reference them.

Regarding practice: I asked my father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, and he told me that when he learned and began to pray, my grandfather (the Rebbe Rashab), may there be a distinction between life and life eternal, instructed him to say at the end of prayer the verses "Hashem Yigmor Ba'adi... Veyotzi'em Mechoshech..." (even though there is a note there for Yitzchak: "Yud Alef Sukkotah... Nashak"). And these are said in all prayers and on all days.

Let it be known that apparently there are those who doubt whether what is bracketed in Rashi on Nach is actually from Rashi or from a later author of customs. The proof is that these customs are not brought by early authorities nor by students of Rashi. I found written that in the Amsterdam Tanach edition (5460), glosses by Rabbi Akiva Eiger were inserted into Rashi's commentary; it is explained in the introduction that they are from Rabbi Ovadiah HaNavi. I do not have this Tanach to verify. Perhaps also what appears in Rashi on Michah belongs to these glosses.

I conclude with wishes for a good inscription and sealing for you and your entire group. M. Schneersohn

This was delayed after Rosh HaShanah; enclosed are three maamarim of Chassidus. Please confirm their receipt—they are for your entire group as previously arranged.

With blessings for a good inscription and sealing. M.S.

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies that reciting verses matching one's name at the end of prayer is an established Chabad custom with sources in various works but uncertain attribution to Rashi himself; he shares guidance received from his predecessors regarding this practice.