485 —הבהרה על פטירת רשב"י ותיקונים בספרי הלכה

B"H, Hilula of Rashbi, 5709.

Brooklyn, NY.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a num"m etc. Shlomo Yosef Zevin

Shalom u'Vrachah!

By chance I saw, in the library of my father-in-law the Rebbe shlit"a, your book "HaMoadim BaHalacha," new edition, and found there in the chapter on Lag BaOmer a citation from Pri Etz Chaim (Dubrovna and Loshtshov printings), Shaar Sefirat HaOmer chapter 7 in a note, as follows: The reason Rashbi passed away on Lag BaOmer is because he was among Rabbi Akiva's students who died during Sefirat HaOmer.

It is well known that this passage is problematic both in the revealed aspect—since Rashbi was among the five students ordained by Rabbi Akiva afterwards—and in the esoteric aspect according to what is explained in Pri Etz Chaim there and in the Siddur of the Arizal regarding the level of the 24,000 students who died versus that of these five students. This has already been addressed in Shu"t Divrei Nechemia Orach Chaim section 34 sub-section 7. He concludes: Perhaps there is a scribal error in Pri Etz Chaim regarding this statement; further investigation is needed regarding the Koretz printing where I heard this passage is omitted.

Indeed, it is so: In Pri Etz Chaim Koretz edition this passage does not appear. Likewise, in the Siddurim of the Arizal and in two manuscript copies of Pri Etz Chaim found in my father-in-law's collection, this entire matter is missing. I also did not find such an explanation among all the discourses of Chassidus I have seen so far.

The Sefer HaKavanot (regarding Sefirat HaOmer discourse 12) explains about Lag BaOmer customs: Since Rashbi was one of Rabbi Akiva’s five great students, therefore his day of joy is on Lag BaOmer. Similarly it appears in Mishnat Chassidim. It seems that the author of Divrei Nechemia did not see Sefer HaKavanot since he does not cite it—and for several reasons it seems appropriate to me to correct this point in your book or at least note these doubts at the next opportunity.

Incidentally, Shu"t Divrei Nechemia contains several topics touched upon in your Lag BaOmer essay within your book.

With respect and blessing for all good things,
M. Schneerson

Summary

The Rebbe highlights a textual inconsistency about Rashbi’s passing on Lag BaOmer and encourages scholarly accuracy by suggesting corrections or notes be added to halachic works when doubts arise from manuscript evidence.