4129 —שבעה עליות בשבת ומצב רוחני של הקהל

B"H, 21 Shevat, 5716.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z Shmuel Betzalel Althaus

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 14th of Shevat and also the pan from the day of the yahrzeit of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal nishmaso Eden nasi Yisrael, which will be read at an auspicious time at his holy resting place...

Regarding your question about adding aliyot to the Torah due to an event for the yeshiva: According to the directive of my revered father-in-law, based on a responsum from the tzt"z, in such cases one does not add to the seven called up and the maftir; rather, one reads in several places.

And regarding your second question—whether one should be particular about the spiritual state of those in the minyan and among the gabbaim etc.—it is self-understood that this depends on each individual and also on the general state of the synagogue. It is difficult to give universal rules for this from one period to another, especially when there is distance involved. As it is said: "Salvation comes with much counsel," which in this case is also a directive. Surely it is unnecessary to remind what is stated in Tanya chapter 32 and further at length—the tzt"z—in Sefer Derech Mitzvosecha regarding Ahavas Yisrael; from this one can learn regarding what was mentioned.

Regarding your notification about moving to a new residence: May it be G‑d's will that "a change of place brings a change of fortune," for good and blessing both materially and spiritually.

With blessings for success.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that Chabad custom limits Shabbat aliyot to seven plus maftir even for special occasions. He emphasizes sensitivity to both individual and communal spiritual states and encourages seeking counsel while practicing Ahavas Yisrael as taught in Tanya.