Apple on Rosh Hashanah – Time That Passes Which Is Hefsek

This letter, found in the third volume as letter 412, is a condolence letter written by the Rebbe before he officially became Rebbe. He addresses Rabbi Axelrod, expressing sorrow over the passing of his mother, may her soul rest in peace, and offers the traditional blessing that he be comforted among all those who mourn for Zion and Jerusalem.

The Rebbe continues, referencing the recipient’s request and noting that, in addition to what he had already sent at the end of Tishrei in the year Tov Shin Tes, he had previously sent something during Chol HaMoed Sukkot, which he asks to be returned. The Rebbe then shares several customs based on the instructions of his father-in-law, the previous Rebbe.

One custom mentioned is regarding the talit katan—the small garment with fringes. The Rebbe notes that it is not to be torn. While there is a tradition to bury a person with a talit, the fringes are made invalid so that they are not kosher tzitzit. However, the Rebbe specifies that the talit katan worn by the person should not be ripped. This seems to be the custom he is describing, though he suggests verifying the exact tradition.

Regarding the remembrance of souls during Yizkor, the Rebbe instructs to follow the version found in the Siddur Torah Or. He notes that, typically, when mentioning the departed, the formula is to say the father’s name, not the mother’s. The mother’s name is generally used only in prayers for healing. Nevertheless, the Rebbe says to use the version as printed in the Siddur Torah Or.

The Rebbe also addresses the practice during the first year after a passing. While the common custom is that mourners remain in the synagogue during Yizkor but do not recite it in the first year, the Rebbe instructs to recite Yizkor even in the first year, but to do so discreetly so as not to draw attention.

He further suggests that during the eleven months of mourning, if possible, the mourner should receive the maftir—the final aliyah—on Shabbat, and to seek an aliyah whenever possible, especially during the yahrzeit and throughout the eleven months. The Rebbe notes that one should try to receive aliyot both in the morning and at Mincha on Shabbat.

The Rebbe also discusses the recitation of the special prayer Kel Malei Rachamim that is said at funerals, advising not to say it during the first year of mourning. He suggests that if the mourner is able, he should read from the Torah as the baal koreh—the Torah reader. Additionally, the mourner should study Mishnayot in a particular order: chapter 24 of Keilim and Mikvaot after each prayer during the thirty days of mourning. After this period, only the four Mishnayot corresponding to the letters nun, shin, mem, and hey—spelling the word neshamah—are studied.

The Rebbe details the times when Kaddish should be recited: before the Baruchu, after the Shemoneh Esrei, after U’va Letziyon Goel, after the daily psalm, after Kaveh and Aleinu, and after reciting Tehillim and Mishnayot. This applies before and after Shemoneh Esrei at Mincha, and after Aleinu with Mishnayot and Baruchu at Maariv, both before and after Shemoneh Esrei and after Aleinu with Mishnayot. The Rebbe lists all the occasions when Kaddish is recited, including if one leaves the services.

At the end of the letter, the Rebbe offers a blessing that the promise be fulfilled: those who lie in the dust will rise with the coming of Mashiach Tzidkeinu—the righteous redeemer—through the true and immediate redemption.

The Rebbe notes in a footnote that these customs are based on what the previous Rebbe wrote to him when he was in mourning for his own father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, in the year Tov Shin Dalet. At that time, the previous Rebbe was in the United States, and he was not informed of the passing until after the shiva. The letter from the previous Rebbe, dated the fourth of Elul, Tov Shin Dalet, expresses condolences and blessings for comfort.

The previous Rebbe relates that he heard from a chassid who was among the yoshvim—those who would sit and study in Lubavitch in the year Taf Resh Mem Gimel, when the Rebbe Rashab was in mourning for his father, the Rebbe Maharash. The Rebbe Rashab would study Mishnayot, sometimes explaining them according to their inner meaning, and would learn a page of Gemara with ten people. Despite his poor health, he would read from the Torah, and on Shabbat he would receive the maftir aliyah. He would also receive aliyot at Mincha.

The number of Kaddish recitations totaled seventeen: nine during the morning prayers, four at Mincha, and four at Maariv. In the year Tof Resh Ayin Beit, the Rebbe’s grandfather would read from the Torah throughout the thirty days of mourning until Pesach while outside the country. Upon returning to Lubavitch, he stopped, but later regretted discontinuing this practice and wished he had continued reading from the Torah.

The letter closes with blessings for the health and longevity of the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana, and for the Rebbe and his wife, signed with love and blessings from his father-in-law.

There is a note about the number of Kaddish recitations: in the year Tof Resh Nun Gimel, Kaddish was not recited after Tehillim, so the total was sixteen. Later, the custom of reciting Kaddish after Tehillim was instituted, bringing the total to seventeen. The Rebbe’s letter reflects this later custom.

In summary, the letter details the customs and practices for a mourner, including the recitation of Kaddish, Torah reading, and the study of Mishnayot, as well as the proper conduct during the first year of mourning, all based on the traditions passed down from the previous Rebbeim.