8291 —כתיבת השם פנחס בתורה ובהלכה

Shalom u'Vrachah! [Beginning of Teves 5722]

Regarding your question about whether the name Pinchas should be written deficient (without a yud) or full (with a yud)—see Zohar III (page 213b, and there page 57b) that the yud was added to it. However, according to our tradition and as ruled in halachah (in the names section of Gittin according to Beis Shmuel), it should be written full. See also Minchas Shai at the beginning of Parshas Pinchas.

Despite all this, Maharshal testified that most people write it deficient (apparently referring to cases where it does not affect legal matters). This is also how it appears in the Talmud regarding names such as Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair and similar cases.

This letter is addressed to Moreinu HaRav Pinchas Aharon Weberman, and was written on the back of his letter from Zos Chanukah. Additional letters to him: above volume 20, Z'trest; below volumes 8:Shald, 8:Tnaz, 8:Tkad, 8:Trand.

He wrote: In his letter: I saw that in his letters to me, my honored Rebbe shlita writes my name "Pinchas Aharon" deficiently without a yud. But in the Torah and also in Beis Shmuel regarding people's names it is written full with a yud. Pinchas... full: see also Likkutei Sichos volume 8 page 355 note 32.

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies that while tradition and halachah favor writing "Pinchas" with a yud, many write it without one when not required by law. Attention to detail in names reflects respect for both tradition and practical custom.