3976 —כשסידור ושלחן ערוך של אדמו"ר הזקן חלוקים, אנו פוסקים כסידור

B"H, 23 Kislev, 5716.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"n chov tznam"s etc. David

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 21st of Kislev, in which you write about the ruling of our master the Alter Rebbe in his Siddur regarding the order of welcoming Shabbat—that the main view follows the Geonim regarding Bein HaShmashos—and you point out what he wrote in his pure Shulchan Aruch (Siman 261:5) according to Rabbeinu Tam's opinion, and you are unsure which is considered his final ruling.

The Tzemach Tzedek, his grandson, already taught that the Siddur was written long after the Shulchan Aruch (see Chiddushim on Masechet Shabbat at the end of chapter 7), and we follow the rulings of the Siddur for both this matter and other issues where there are differences between the Siddur and Shulchan Aruch (most of which have been collected in Sefer Piskei HaSiddur by Harav Hachassid etc. Avraham Chaim Naeh a”h from Jerusalem; may it be rebuilt by our righteous Moshiach speedily).

It is also worth noting that in Ketzos HaShulchan by Harav Naeh at the end of part three, he comments on several details regarding the order of welcoming Shabbat according to our master the Alter Rebbe.

With blessings for success in your efforts to clarify words of Torah—especially regarding Hilchot Bein HaShmashos, upon which many practical halachic matters depend. And although many greats have already discussed these topics—many aspects still require a skilled craftsman to resolve them.

This should be based on points and instructions found in the words of great Torah authorities—both early and later authorities—and up to the greatest among them: our master, the Alter Rebbe.

May it be G‑d’s will that during these Bein HaShmashos days of the sixth and seventh millennia—the sixth and seventh days of creation—whose Bein HaShmashos is well-known to all and everyone rushes to finish their work before dark (Rashi Ketubot 103a), each one of us will succeed in completing our task—Heaven’s work—to make for Him a dwelling place below. Through this, night—the day—the seventh millennium—will shine like day, as our Sages said about creation’s days: that for thirty-six hours that light shone (Bereishit Rabbah 11:2).

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that when there is a difference between rulings in the Alter Rebbe’s Siddur and his Shulchan Aruch, we follow those found in the Siddur. This principle guides practical halachic decisions and emphasizes careful study rooted in tradition.