5765 —ברכות לתינוק שנולד, הערות הלכתיות על נוסח הברכות

B"H, 26 Elul, 5717. Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n his work is the work of Heaven Avraham Mordechai Shmuel Lider

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter from Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh and your pan for yourself, your family, and your students. Thank you for at least writing main points regarding Chai Elul and the gathering on the 19th of Elul; surely you will elaborate further on these topics and other matters you did not mention in your next opportunity.

Regarding your notification about bringing your son into the covenant of Avraham Avinu and naming him in Israel Yosef Yitzchak shlita: May it be G‑d's will that you and your wife raise him and all your children to Torah, marriage, and good deeds.

I repeat my blessing for the upcoming new year: May you be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year both materially and spiritually together.

With blessing for good news.

Regarding the text of a blessing similar to "three if to change in Eretz Yisrael" and whether to say "fruit of her vine," "from her wheat," etc.—see Ketzos HaShulchan end of Siman in Badei HaShulchan there (and according to what is written there one should not change near the conclusion of the blessing even for fruit. However, he contradicts himself at the end of section six). Also see Sefer Eretz Yisrael by Rabbi Toktzynski and others. But it requires further study if there is a foundation for what is written in Badei HaShulchan because it seems that Admor HaZaken was careful not to bring laws that were not explicitly stated in previous works (similar to Rambam). Especially those not customary "in our country" (as referenced in Ketzos HaShulchan section six there regarding Birkas HaNehenin chapter six and Likutei Amarim in Shulchan Aruch Admor HaZaken Siman Kuf Zayin—and perhaps for this reason he did not bring the blessing on a rainbow in Birkas HaNehenin at that Siman). Why should one deviate from universal custom because of a proof that introduces doubt? Perhaps there is an accepted tradition among Anash in Eretz HaKodesh from the first Chabad chassidim who immigrated there?

Regarding wearing a tallis gadol—I wrote in Hayom Yom as I heard from my father-in-law, the Rebbe.

Summary

The Rebbe emphasizes maintaining established halachic customs while offering blessings for spiritual and material growth. He encourages detailed communication about communal events and highlights reliance on tradition when considering changes to religious practice.