9016 —זרת, ניקוד של שמח תשמח, וחזית דתית טכנית

Shalom u'Vrachah! [Beginning of Elul 5725] Regarding zeres—in my humble opinion, it is worthwhile to reference the section and similar sources, and whoever increases signs for Torah is praiseworthy. Concerning the nikud of 'Sameach Tesamach,' it seems clear that we say 'sameach' with both vowels as patach. I did not comment on this in the section because I recall that there is a letter from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, and I am searching for it. Thank you very much for your great efforts regarding the technical religious front and for not refraining even from going to P[arliament?] etc. In such matters, even in cases of doubt or double doubt, action is worthwhile; see Sanhedrin (110a), especially according to Ramban (on the eighth principle in Sefer HaMitzvos by Rambam), which explains 'Vayakam Moshe Vayelech...' (in addition to resolving doubt—if there was one—what is the objection). Part of this was printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 33 p. 281 and completed based on a photocopy of the original manuscript. The letter is to Mohash"y Zevin and was written on his letter dated Wednesday, 27 Menachem Av 5725. Additional letters to him are above in Cheshvan 5731 and referenced in notes there.

Regarding zeres: In his letter: I saw there [in Siddur Admur HaZaken with Chassidus Shasah, I-II] what our Rebbe wrote about the custom in Beis HaRav to raise the cup of blessing three fingerbreadths from the table. Long ago I saw this in the Haggadah shel Pesach of our Rebbe and assumed it was based on Zohar which writes zeres; while working on the entry 'zeres' for volume 12 of the encyclopedia I noted this in comments and added that clarification is needed since Zohar itself writes elsewhere twice 'tefach,' as do Gemara and all poskim; surely where Zohar writes zeres it also means tefach. As written in Targum Yerushalmi on Choshen: 'zeres arko: pashakh,' meaning tefach; so too in Itur Sefarim (not: Sefarim) regarding a book wrapper. Now in Siddur I saw his holy view. He indeed writes that it is based on Zohar which says zeres but does not bring Targum Yerushalmi above. Since that entry has not yet been printed, I will also add what he wrote in Siddur; nevertheless, I must conclude with clarification (or perhaps not bring at all nor write 'needs clarification').

Regarding nikud: In his letter: I saw in Siddur that the nikud for 'Sameach Tesamach' in Sheva Berachos is 'sameach,' and I checked all Chabad siddurim—all have both vowels as patach; but throughout my life I've said 'sameach' as it appears in all other siddurim, mainly because that's correct according to grammar. I do not know if this double patach was intentional or perhaps from a printer's error without oversight.

That we say... patach: See also above vol. III letter 471.

On technical religious front: See also above letter 419 and referenced notes there.

Summary

This letter highlights careful attention to halachic detail—both regarding measurements like zeres and textual accuracy such as vowelization—while also encouraging active involvement even amid uncertainty when it comes to communal religious matters.