7208 —קריאת ויחל בימי תענית וסמכות הצ"צ

B"H, 27 Shevat, 5720.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n etc. Shaul Yissachar Bik

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 24th of Teves, the yahrzeit of our Rebbe the Alter Rebbe, author of Tanya—the authority in the hidden dimension of Torah—and Shulchan Aruch—the authority in the revealed dimension of Torah—regarding what you wrote about reading Vayechal on fast days and similar matters: I have not heard any oral instructions on this. What I found in responsa and notes from our Rebbeim, as well as in later authorities, I summarized along with the custom in this matter in Likkut Minhagim printed at the end of Megillas Eichah; see there and in the footnotes for source references. Additionally, after publication I found more: Responsa Tzafnas Paneach vol. II sec. 31; Responsa Minchas Yitzchak by Rabbi Weiss from Manchester, sec. 65.

In any case, for us there is only the ruling of our Rebbe the tzt"z, for wherever we are we are in his domain.

Thank you for your book Mishmeres Shalom which you published. May it be G‑d's will that for many more years you continue to publicize the customs of students of the Baal Shem Tov and their disciples as part of spreading the wellsprings in general—as written in Iggeres HaKodesh of the Baal Shem Tov until they reach even "outside," thereby bringing closer the coming of King Mashiach as explained there.

And finally, it pleased me to receive regards from you via your son Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua and also to receive regards from our fellow Jews there—you understand my intent. May it be G‑d's will that you and your wife should share good news regarding all your affairs, including receiving traditional Jewish nachas from your children.

Blessings for good news in all mentioned above.

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies that regarding reading Vayechal on fast days, one should follow the ruling of the tzt"z as authoritative. He encourages further dissemination of Chassidic customs and teachings to help bring about redemption.