4561 —סתימת פתחים, מנהגי חב"ד, ושיתוף מסורות

B"H, 24 Tammuz, 5716.

Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Aharon Dov Soferin

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 18th of Tammuz, in which you write: a) Regarding sealing an opening, it is brought in the will of Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid concerning sealing an oven (Will sections 20 and 49; also inside the book sections 511 and 986), and it is found in the writings of our holy Nesi'im and apparently from the tzt"z. The wording: Regarding sealing a window or door, my revered grandfather instructed to make a hole in the seal with a metal tube (treibel), even if sealed on both sides, and afterwards it can be plastered with clay. In a letter from my father-in-law the Rebbe (27 Teves 5708), he writes: The custom is that when sealing a window they leave a round hole about a tefach and a half wide; into this hole they insert an open tin tube through both sides. When finishing the sealing work they make small nails on the tube and then plaster as usual.

b) You wrote that you are not familiar with Chabad customs etc., and ask if there is a book where these customs are collected. Although preparations are being made to print such a book, it has not yet been published. However, many customs have been printed in various pamphlets: Pesach customs in the Kehot Haggadah; Elul and Tishrei customs in the complete machzor by Kehot; similarly, I am sending you separately Hayom Yom which also contains many customs as indicated in its index. Certainly you will generously share these customs with others as well—the merit of the public depends on you.

I was pleased to receive your letter regarding your impressions from the shluchim gathering. May it be G‑d's will that these impressions lead to practical action in daily life, for this is man's entire purpose.

With blessing,
On behalf of the Rebbe Shlita
Secretary

Summary

This letter provides guidance on traditional practices for sealing openings according to Chabad custom and emphasizes sharing knowledge of these customs with others. The Rebbe encourages translating inspiration into concrete daily actions.