3808 —הבהרות הלכתיות על מנהגי סליחות ומנהגים נלווים

B"H, the days of Selichos, 5715.

Brooklyn, NY.

Harav vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Alter Moshe Raginski

Shalom u'Vrachah!

... In response to your comments in your letter: a) Regarding what you wrote in the general calendar about Vayechal and Aneinu—this is indeed the ruling of Admor HaTzt"z (see Shu"t Shaar HaMiluyim sec. 8; also his ruling in Orach Chaim sec. 565; Shu"t Chatam Sofer Orach Chaim sec. 157; Maharam Shik sec. 289; Sdei Chemed Pe'at HaSadeh Asifat Dinim Ma'arechet Beit HaMidrash sec. 2 subsec. 3). As I already referenced all this in Likkutei Minhagim printed at the end of Reshimos Eichah, from which this instruction was copied into the calendar. The calendar is not a place for source citations. See also Shu"t Tzafnat Paneach by the Gaon of Rogatchov vol. II sec. 31.

b) Regarding saying Mashiv Haruach U'Morid HaGeshem also at Shacharis after hearing the announcement (in my opinion only if one does not pray with another minyan; unlike the doubt in Biur Halachah, but this is not the place to elaborate)—this is also ruled in Shu"t Sheilat Shalom Mahadura Tinyana end of sec. 197 based on the Yerushalmi, concluding: "This is clear and obvious, and Biur Halachah did not see this sefer since he did not mention it."

c) On Erev Shabbos Chanukah there must be enough oil for at least half an hour after sunset—as stated in the calendar. It is unclear what difficulty you have with this.

d) Regarding not completing the verse from Devarim (9:7) when reciting the remembrances—it can be explained that it is to minimize speaking negatively about Israel. See also Shu"t Chatam Sofer Orach Chaim sec. 10. Still, there remains a question regarding remembering Matan Torah. The clearest answer is as explained in Shu"t Maharam Shik Orach Chaim sec. 124: that in such cases it is not intended as reading a verse or passage but rather as recalling an idea using a phrase from Scripture—see also Magen Avraham beginning of sec. 282; and Yoreh Deah sec. 284 regarding marking lines.

e) Inserting the thread into the hole from the side—in Tallit Katan, Admor HaZaken writes in his Siddur: "after making the upper knot properly."

f) Regarding your comment about clarifying length and width—see ruling of Tzt"z Orach Chaim sec. 11.

Summary

The Rebbe provides detailed halachic guidance on various customs related to Selichos and other practices, referencing authoritative sources for each point and emphasizing precision in both practice and citation.