לעבור לפני התיבה בתוך שנים עשר חדש לפטירת האם

B"H, 6 Elul, 5713.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n our teacher Avraham Moshe Kirshenboim

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter in which you write that for about twenty-five years you have served as baal koreh, baal toke'a, and shaliach tzibbur for Shacharit on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Since this year falls within twelve months of your mother's passing, you ask my opinion whether you should serve as chazzan.

The halachah is clarified in many places: if one has been established in this role for several years, he should continue to serve as chazzan even on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. See the commentaries on Shulchan Aruch in Aruch HaShulchan sections 46-47 and others; also Mateh Ephraim and its commentaries on siman 581. Especially since you write that my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal, already ruled for you in practice during his own mourning for his father.

You surely know the instructions of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe: whoever serves as chazzan on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur should review the meaning of the words—at least their simple meaning—both of the prayers and the piyutim in the days beforehand.

With blessings for a good inscription and sealing, and that you should be a worthy emissary for those who send you to be blessed with a good and sweet year among all Israel.

Summary

The Rebbe writes that one who is established as chazzan may continue even within twelve months of a parent's passing, provided he reviews the meaning of prayers before leading services.