6086 - Defining the Quorum for Repetition of the Amidah

In this letter to Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt, then a Shochet in Memphis, Tennessee, the Rebbe addresses specific questions regarding synagogue customs and the accuracy of halachic texts.

1. Quorum for the Repetition of the Amidah The Rebbe addresses a doubt regarding how many people must be praying the quiet Amidah to justify a public repetition (Chazaras HaShatz).

• The Ruling: The Rebbe cites the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, who follows the Magen Avraham. The rule is that if six people (a majority of a minyan) are praying the quiet Amidah together, the repetition is performed.

• Textual Correction: Rabbi Greenblatt noted that the Sha'arei Teshuva quotes the Magen Avraham as requiring ten people. The Rebbe explains this is a typographical error in earlier prints, where the Hebrew letter Vav (numerical value 6) was mistaken for a Yud (numerical value 10). The Rebbe proves this by noting that all other major codifiers quote the Magen Avraham as saying "six."

2. Torah Reading on Fast Days (Vayichal) Regarding the reading of Vayichal on public fast days, the Rebbe clarifies the minimum number of fasting individuals required to perform the reading.

• The Custom: If there are at least three people fasting in the synagogue, the Torah is read from Vayichal.

• References: The Rebbe provides an extensive list of sources for this ruling, including the Tzemach Tzedek, Chasam Sofer, and the S'dei Chemed, confirming this as the established Chabad custom.

3. The Three Daily Study Quotas (Chitas) The Rebbe concludes by encouraging the daily study of Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya (Chitas). He emphasizes that these study cycles are "equal for everyone" and serve as a "good omen" (segulah) for many positive things.