7012 —שינוי לקשר תפילין חב"ד ולנוסח חב"ד, לימוד תורה, וברכות

B"H, 22 Elul, 5719. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter requesting a blessing and a pan (pidyon nefesh): At an auspicious time, you and all those you wrote about will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my revered father-in-law the Rebbe zatzukal lehavdil ben chayim mezal ziya in accordance with the content of your letter.

Regarding what you wrote about changing the tefillin knot to the Chabad style—it is understood that this is correct.

Regarding what you wrote about changing to the Chabad nusach (prayer text), this is very correct. As explained elsewhere, it is permitted to change from Nusach Ashkenaz to Sefard and from standard Sefard to Nusach HaAri—which is precisely the nusach used by Chabad chassidim—but not the reverse. Therefore, if you decide to permanently change your nusach, this matter is correct as stated—especially since according to chassidic tradition, our master the Alter Rebbe clarified his nusach from sixty siddurim.

Since you are a yeshiva student and are bringing this request, it is understood and obvious that you must increase diligence and persistence in Torah study and meticulous mitzvah observance. Besides the great importance of this itself, through this there will be added blessings from Hashem in all your needs and in fulfilling your heart's desires for good.

With blessing for good news and a good inscription for the new year,
In the name of my revered teacher the Rebbe shlita,
Secretary

Summary

The letter affirms that adopting Chabad customs in tefillin knots and prayer text is proper—especially for a yeshiva student—and links increased Torah study and mitzvah observance with greater Divine blessings.